Updated: 7:26 AM EDT May 16, 2021 The Department of Labor & Industry announced last week that Pennsylvania's unemployment rate has fallen low enough to automatically conclude the Extended Benefits program.The program officially concluded the claim week ending on May 15, 2021.L&I said the approximately 7,000 people filing for benefits on the EB program will be moved to the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program beginning May 16. The PEUC program will be available for eligible individuals until the week ending Sept. 4.The change in program does not cause any changes in the filing process or benefit amount, L&I said."The declining unemployment rate is a sign that Pennsylvania's economy continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For individuals in harder-hit industries, the federal PEUC program will provide assistance as businesses continue to recover," Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier said.Video above: Transition to new unemployment compensation system begins May 30 The EB program provides additional Unemployment Compensation benefits when the Insured Unemployment Rate reaches a certain threshold. The IUR is a measure of continued weeks claimed as a percentage of UC-covered employment. Once triggered on, EB provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits for claimants who exhausted their regular unemployment benefits and other extension programs.L&I said it is required by law to turn off the program and notify the public when the IUR falls beneath the threshold. Individuals receiving benefits through the EB program will also be notified through email or mail.According to L&I, Pennsylvania's EB program has paid nearly $496 million to eligible individuals since it began May 3, 2020.