Michigan's jobless workers who are eligible for an increase in unemployment benefits should have started getting checks with the higher amount the week of May 6-10.

After nearly five months of wrangling, the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature approved a maximum increase in Unemployment Benefits from $300 per week to $362 per week. Gov. Engler signed the bill on April 26, and the increased benefits were due to kick in starting April 29. It is the first increase in benefits since 1995.

"Unemployed individuals should start seeing the higher checks in their mailboxes this week (May 6-10)," said Michigan Unemployment Agency spokesman Norm Isotalo. "Those who qualified for the old benefit maximum of $300 will be getting the new benefit amount of between $300 and $362 per week." He said the increase in benefits is not retroactive.

The Michigan AFL-CIO and the rest of organized labor complained that the more than 40 percent of all jobless workers won't receive an increase in benefits, since they're not receiving the maximum amount.