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New Jersey Unemployment Extension Benefits

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Eligibility For Unemployment Insurance Benefits

New Jersey Will Not Extend Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

To be eligible for UI benefits in 2021, a person must have earned at least $220 per week during 20 or more weeks in covered employment during the base year period. Alternatively, they must have earned at least $11,000 in total covered employment during the base year period.

To be eligible for UI benefits in 2022, the person must have earned at least $240 per week during 20 or more weeks in covered employment during the base year period. Alternatively, they must have earned at least $12,000 in total covered employment during the base-year period. UI benefits do not themselves count as monies earned from covered employment.

Reminder: Federal Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Including Peuc Pua Fpuc And Meuc Ended Sept 4 2021 Learn More

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation is an extension to state unemployment insurance benefits that was created through the federal CARES Act and extended through the Continued Assistance Act and American Rescue Plan Act.

Claimants may receive PEUC for up to 53 weeks after exhausting state unemployment insurance benefits. The PEUC program expires Sept. 4, 2021.

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How To Extend Unemployment Benefits Beyond Initial 26 Weeks

Update: As of January 2014, Federal EUC benefits have expired and the Congress has not approved the extension of these benefits yet.

You have lost your job that provided all the financial support. Now what? Obviously this is not the time to doubt in your abilities and feel depressed. Take a step back and use job search links to look for a stable income. But the first thing you need to do is to file for unemployment insurance benefits.

The initial 26 weeks of unemployment benefits just arent enough. An extension of unemployment compensation will let the benefits flowing to millions of unemployed workers in the country. This means that the jobless workers should be able to move to the next tier of benefits if they are eligible for extended benefits. So all hope is not lost. You can still keep a roof over your head and food on your table by doing several things.

An extension of benefits allows a continuation of unemployment compensation payments beyond the standard 26 week period. Moreover, it would also help the people who are out of work and finding it difficult to find a new job in an economy in recession.

There are two types of extended unemployment benefits:

Emergency Unemployment Compensation : Emergency Unemployment Compensation offers an additional number of weeks that depends on the unemployment level in your state.

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After A Delayed Rollout Due To A Need To Program State Computers For The 11

It took until February but New Jersey Department of Labor finally completed programming for the 11-week benefits extension passed in late December. According to the agency the work got done ahead of schedule although officials were questioned why the state had a delay when New York and Connecticut had not.

The delay that left over 75,000 claimants without extended benefits was blamed on the last-minute federal action to continue benefits beyond the 26 December cutoff. States across the US experienced similar problems due to the bill passing so close to the benefits expiration and the subsequent hesitation to sign the legislation by former President Trump.

States were not given time to program systems for the 11-wk extension to all claimants without delay. The frustrations our workers are feeling are taking place all over the nation right now as a result of last-minute federal action.

NJ Labor Department

New Following Legislation Introduced By Councilmember Silverman Pua Users Are Now Also Eligible For 7 Additional Weeks Of Support Through Eb When Unemployment Levels Remain High

Department of Labor and Workforce Development

You can apply for EB at the end of your 13-week PEUC extension. To apply, visit does.dcnetworks.org/initialclaims and follow the prompts.

You will receive the same weekly amount you received through UI and PEUC or PUA, unless your income has changed. EB will be available for as long as unemployment levels in the District remain higher than normal.

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Earnings And Work Requirements

Most states require one or both of two requirements for eligibility:

  • A work requirement. In Alabama, for example, as in many states, you must have worked in at least two quarters of the base year. Other states, however, have slightly different rules. In Washington, you can work in only one quarter as long as over the base year youve worked at least 680 hours.
  • An earnings requirement. Some states have a minimum total wage amount earned during the base year eligibility period others have a highest quarter wages requirement. In Texas, you must have earned your weekly benefit amount times 37.

The Texas earnings requirement calculation is complicated. First, you determine your weekly benefit amount, which is what you earned in your highest-paid quarter divided by 25. The benefit is capped at $454 per week. $454 times 37 gives you $16,798, the minimum amount you must have earned to be eligible for benefits at the maximum benefits cap.

If youre applying for extended benefits in Texas, your total wages during the base year must be at least 40 times your weekly benefit amount. You must have also used all your regular benefits from previous claims and must be ineligible for unemployment benefits in another state.

Qualifying for benefits in Wyoming involves two separate base-year earnings calculations. You must earn a minimum of 8 percent of the average wage in Wyoming for the base year and have total earnings of at least 1.4 times your earnings in your highest-paid quarter.

Benefits Program Still Available

A claimant is able to receive benefits for weeks of unemployment ending before September 4, 2021. A person who is currently involved in an appeal or adjudication process, or who had an appointment scheduled for after September 4, 2021 should continue to certify weekly. They should follow instructions and monitor their email for changes regarding their unemployment benefits.

Claimants may file new unemployment claims if they lose their jobs in 2022. The new claims may or may not be related to concerns related to the coronavirus.

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Types Of Unemployment Extension Benefits

The length of a state unemployment benefits extension is contingent upon New Jerseys employment rate over a period of 3 months:

Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits are both federal unemployment extension programs. Federal unemployment benefit extensions are reserved for times of exceptionally high national unemployment. When federal unemployment extensions are activated, both EUC and EB are used as additional extensions for beneficiaries who have exhausted their state benefits.

There are currently no state or federal unemployment extension benefits available in the state of New Jerse

Benefit Year End Reviews

Business Report: Some NJ unemployment repayments forgiven

All unemployment claims are required to be reviewed after one year per law. Claimants approaching the end of their benefit year should take no additional action. If your UI claim has been open more than one year then you need to be aware of the following actions:

  • DO NOT attempt to open a new claim.
  • DO continue to certify for weekly benefits according to the schedule.

The review of your claim will occur automatically the NJ DOL will contact you only if more information is needed. If you recently reached the end of your benefit year, a review of your claim has been completed or is underway. When the review is complete, you will receive confirmation your weekly certification for benefits was successful.

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The Federal Peuc Program That Extends Unemployment Benefits Ended

If you were getting PEUC benefits, the week ending Sept. 4 is:

  • The last payable week for PEUC benefits.
  • The last week for the extra $300 per week. By federal law, all claimants except those receiving Training Benefits were getting $300 in addition to their usual weekly benefit amount for a limited time.

If you still need unemployment benefits after Sept. 4

  • Continue filing weekly claims if you have an active unemployment claimYou might have weeks available on a regular unemployment claim.
  • If you use eServices, youll know you have available weeks if you see a link that says You have a weekly claim to file.
  • If you file weekly claims by phone, you will hear an option to file a weekly claim.

Remember: If you have remaining weeks available and youre eligible for those weeks, you will be paid your regular weekly benefit amount. That amount will not include the extra $300 per week from FPUC.

  • Apply for a new claimIn eServices, click the Apply for benefits link under Alerts. If you dont have eServices, or if you think you should be eligible and dont see the link, call the Unemployment Claims Center to speak with an agent.

See more information about applying at esd.wa.gov/unemployment.

If you have a claim pending in adjudication or appeal after Sept. 4: Benefits will be available. If we find that you are eligible, we will pay benefits for weeks you claimed through the week ending Sept. 4.

What all claimants should do:

  • Continue filing claims for weeks you want to get benefits.
  • When Could An Extension Be Confirmed

    The Biden Administration has now confirmed that they wont push at a federal level or via executive order to extend enhanced unemployment programs past the September 6th expiration date.

    They are instead encouraging states with high unemployment or hit hard by COVID-19 Delta to use existing ARPA stimulus funding to extend and expand traditional state unemployment benefits for as long as needed. You can see more on this in this video.

    States will have to provide guidance on expanded benefits or move to state extended benefit programs prior to early September to ensure a continuation of benefits. So stay tuned as updates come out and I will update on state-by-state basis.

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    What Happens When You File A Claim For Unemployment

    If you are currently receiving payments at the end of your benefit year, your payments will stop until a new claim is filed and eligibility is determined. If you are not eligible to receive payments on your new claim, you may be eligible to receive benefits on a different UI program. If your Employer filed your claim, see Employer Filed Claims.

    UI recipients may qualify for extended benefits under the federal extension or for a new UI claim, depending on their work history and wages earned since filing their initial claim in 2020. Visit on.ny.gov/bye for important information on this updated guidance.

    Unemployment Program Extensions Under Biden Arpa Stimulus Package

    NJDOL: New Unemployment Claims Rise During Thanksgiving Week  Federal ...

    Under President Bidens $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan , enhanced unemployment benefits will be extended until September 6th. This would be the week ending September 4th, 2021 in New Jersey. This includes the following extensions:

    Pandemic Unemployment Assistance The PUA program, designed for freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors or those that generally dont qualify for regular state unemployment, has been extended to September 6th, 2021 . This brings the total number of weeks in the program to 79. The minimum PUA payment is still 50% of a states average weekly benefit amount and limited to the states maximum weekly benefit amount .

    Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation The new stimulus bill funds another 25 weeks of weekly supplementary/extra unemployment at the current $300 level. Payments for the $300 weekly payment will continue until early September for a total of 25 weeks and eligible claimants those getting at least $1 from state and federal unemployment programs can get a maximum of $7,500 if they qualify for all weeks covered in this new extension. The other $100 supplementary payment for Mixed Earners was also extended by 25 weeks.

    Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation The PEUC program, which extends coverage for those who have exhausted regular and extended state unemployment, has also been extended until the week ending September 4th, 2021.

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    If I Am Eligible For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Do I Need To First Apply For Unemployment Insurance

    States must have a process for determining that Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applicants are ineligible for regular unemployment benefits, which may not include filing a regular claim as a first step. States are not required to take and adjudicate a full claim for regular unemployment insurance benefits to meet this requirement. While states are not prohibited from taking a full claim, to facilitate expedited claims processing the U.S. Department of Labor has discouraged states from doing so. Individuals should apply using the states PUA application process and, in states that have not yet established that process, must wait until it is established.

    Business Report: Job Growth Extended Unemployment To End Saint Peters Draws Donors

    Theres no let-up in the surge in hiring. New Jersey-based ADP said Wednesday that private companies across the U.S. added 455,000 new jobs this month. That was in line with expectations and comes a few days before the closely watched monthly employment report from the federal government. A separate report shows there are still more job openings than there are people to fill them and millions of people are still quitting their jobs each month.

    Meantime New Jersey employers are gearing up for seasonal hiring. For instance, Home Depot said its looking to fill more than 1,100 full- and part-time positions for its busy spring season.

    The state labor department has announced that extended unemployment benefits will come to an end next month. Some 20,000 unemployed workers in New Jersey are currently receiving those benefits, which were paid out during the pandemic when unemployment in the state was high. The extended unemployment benefits program, which has paid $1.3 billion to claimants since July 2020, will end on April 9.

    New Jerseyans could get a break on their state taxes if they make contributions to retirement savings plans, under a bill working its way through the Legislature. Currrently, net taxable income is reduced if you contribute to a 401 plan. But the legislation would expand the tax benefit to other federally recognized retirement savings plans like 403s and IRAs. You can read more here.

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    Biden Emergency Extension To Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

    With the rapid spread of and potential economic slowdown from the virulent Delta COVID-19 strain there is now talk of the Biden administration repurposing some of existing ARPA stimulus bill funding to extend pandemic unemployment programs to the end of 2022.

    This is similar to the six week LWA extension that President Trump passed by executive order last year when Congress could not initially agree on funding an extension to pandemic unemployment benefits.

    If Congress cannot provide additional funding then this will be the most likely path for a short-term emergency extension of pandemic benefits and could be done relatively quickly along party lines, or simply by a Presidential Executive order. White House lawyers are likely already working on this as a possible option.

    Note that states which had ceased participation early in the federally funded unemployment programs will need to reapply to get access to this short term extension, if indeed it is passed.

    To Extend or Not?

    Which States Ended Unemployment Benefits Early?

    Following recent job reports that showed a shortage of workers to fill open positions, many Republican led states have now ended federally funded pandemic unemployment programs in order to incentivize workers to return to work. You can see the table below for when states ended one or more of the pandemic unemployment programs early.

    States Ending Unemployment Early

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    How Do I Get On The Extended Benefits Program

    New Jersey Residents Pleading For Help Getting Unemployment Benefits

    To continue receiving benefits through the EB extension, all you need to do is continue filing biweekly claims. The benefits will be automatically added to to your claim. You will also receive a determination in the mail about your EB benefits.

    However, there are two differences with EB:

  • You cannot file through the PAT telephone system, only file online. If you are unable to file online, you can request the government mail you a paper application that you can return through the mail.
  • When you log in to file your biweekly claim, your account will say it is inactive. You need to click the âFile an EB claimâ button at the bottom of the screen to file.
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    About New Unemployment Claims Vs Unemployment Extensions

    Filing a new unemployment claim in NJ and requesting an extension of benefits are two separate processes. A new claim cannot be filed if the applicant has not worked since his or her initial benefits have been exhausted. The applicant must have received the amount of work hours and wages required to become qualified for a new claim. The same eligibility criteria that applied during the creation of the first claim still applies when applying for a new claim.

    A new claim is not the same thing as an unemployment extension. An extension is a continuation of the first claim, and has its own eligibility requirements. Extensions are only given if the state and/or national unemployment reaches a certain threshold.

    New Jersey Unemployment Extension

    If your New Jersey unemployment benefits have run out you may be eligible to receive extended unemployment benefits through one of the state or federal unemployment extension programs.

    This federal unemployment extension programs is called Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 .

    Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 includes 4 stages, or tiers. Each tier has a different maximum time period for which your unemployment extension will last:

    Tier 1 EUC08: 20 week maximum unemployment extension. Tier 2 EUC08: 14 week maximum unemployment extension. Tier 3 EUC08: 13 week maximum unemployment extension. Tier 4 EUC08: 6 week maximum unemployment extension.

    If you use up all of your regular unemployment benefits, normally you dont have to apply for an unemployment extension because the system automatically applies for you, if you are eligible. It is very important that you keep track of your benefits to make sure you receive your unemployment extension if you are eligible.

    If you get close to your unemployment benefits running out, give your unemployment counselor a call to check to see what you have to do in order to get they unemployment extension.

    There is another type of unemployment extension called Federal-State Extended Duration , more commonly referred to as Extended Benefits . You will only qualify for the EB unemployment extension if you have used up all of your regular unemployment benefits and also used up all of your EUC08 unemployment extension.

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