Week Ending March 21, 2009. There were 1,070 new regular benefit claims for Unemployment Insurance last week, a decrease of 298 from the week before. Altogether 18,691 new and continuing claims were filed, 69 more than a week ago and 7,861 more than a year earlier. The Department also processed 1,968 First Tier claims for benefits under Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08), 30 more than a week ago. In addition, there were 1,088 Second Tier claims for benefits processed under the EUC08 program which is an increase of 36 from the week before. The Unemployment Weekly Report can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/. Previously released Unemployment Weekly Reports and other UI reports can be found at: http://www.vtlmi.info/lmipub.htm#uc