In 2006, the state paid out $90.1 million in benefits; this year, it projects it will sign unemployment checks worth $383.2 million.

What's worse, the outflow compares to the $56.2 million in interest income and employer taxes the fund will receive this year.

Other figures show the unemployed are collecting benefits for a longer period of time as the economy worsened.

At the end of 2007, the average unemployed person collected an average weekly payment of $374 for 13.6 weeks.

The latest state Labor Department figures show the average unemployment benefit recipient now is filing claims for 17.5 weeks and receives $411 weekly.