The Federal government has extended benefits for out of work Americans. Here are 5 things every worker should know about their unemployment check.

President Bush signed The Unemployment Extension Act of 2008 into law Friday, lengthening the period of government assistance to Americans struggling in the shrinking job market.

The measure helps people whose benefits have recently expired, extending benefits by seven weeks in all states, and extending them for another 13 weeks on top of that in states with unemployment rates that have averaged 6% or higher over the most recent three months.(See state unemployment rates.)

So those who live in a high unemployment states will receive a total of 20 more weeks and nearly half of the states fit that criteria as of October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Workers typically get 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, and it’s not uncommon for the government to extend that during economic slowdowns.

Worried about how to make ends meet without a paycheck? Here’s what you should know to take advantage of the new law.

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