Gov. Linda Lingle today authorized an additional $25 a week in unemployment benefits per claimant as part of the federal stimulus package that was signed by President Barack Obama yesterday.

Lingle signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor which makes the increase effective starting Sunday. Hawaii's current maximum weekly unemployment benefit of $523 is among the the highest in the nation. The increase in benefits is estimated to add over $600,000 to Hawaii's economy each week, according to the governor's office.

"This weekly increase in benefits will provide unemployed individuals in Hawai'i and their families with additional financial resources to help pay their bills as they get back into the job market," Lingle said.