WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a $45 billion plan Wednesday to expand a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, extend jobless benefits and provide tax refunds to money-losing companies.

Under the bill, the $8,000 homebuyers’ tax credit, slated to expire this month, would continue until April 30 and be expanded to include people with higher incomes and some who already own homes. The measure also includes $2.4 billion to extend unemployment benefits for as many as 20 weeks, enough to aid the jobless through the holiday season, and would loosen tax rules for businesses, allowing them to claim refunds by deducting losses sustained in the past two years from the past five years’ worth of profits.

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