Phone hours at the Missouri Department of Labor Regional Claims Centers are now a full hour longer.

The extended hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. are to try and reach as many workers as possible who are eligible for an extra 13 weeks of unemployment insurance.

Last week the Missouri Department of Labor mailed more than 53,000 letters informing workers of their eligibility.

The extension comes after President Bush signed legislation extending benefits.

"We’re doing our part to follow through with that legislation to notify as many people that they may be potentially eligible and what they need to do and what we can do to assist them to make sure that they still have an income coming in," said Wanda Seeney, spokeswoman with the Department of Labor.