What Were Extended Benefits
From July 1, 2020 to April 9, 2022, New Jersey had a high unemployment rate. The high rate triggered state extended unemployment benefits for individuals who had exhausted unemployment benefits. In order to get EB, the workers had to meet the minimum earnings requirement. Also, the date of their initial unemployment insurance claim had to be May 12, 2019 or later.
On April 17, 2021, New Jersey unemployment benefits were reduced from up to 20 weeks to up to 13 weeks because the state’s unemployment rate went down. The EB program ended on April 9, 2022 due to the states declining unemployment rate.
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
Unemployment Benefits Extended By 20 Weeks For Thousands Of Nj Residents
At least 2,000 unemployed New Jerseyans will be eligible for a 20-week extension of their unemployment benefits after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law that will change requirements for claimants.
It will be a crucial time for extended benefits to kick in, as some of the 1.4 million New Jerseyans who have claimed payments since March 15 when unemployment claims skyrocketed after Murphy declared a state of emergency and shut down nonessential businesses could see their benefits expire by Friday if they didnt meet the requirements.
The new law, A4852, which was unanimously passed in both chambers of the state Legislature, changes the requirements so only one of those criteria needs to be met, which would also be in line with the federal requirements.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
Primary sponsors Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, D-Middlesex, Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, and Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said in a joint statement that as the coronavirus cases continues surging across the state, we must do everything in our power to bolster our unemployment program and help unemployed workers through this difficult time.
The law will apply to unemployed workers who have exhausted the base 26 weeks of benefits and additional 13 weeks of CARES Act benefits, which runs through the end of the year.
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Filing An Online Claim
- Alien Registration Number .
- Your NJ drivers license or NJ non-driver identification number.
- Pension information .
- Amount and duration of any separation pay you may be receiving.
- Union hiring hall information, including local number and address .
- Military Form DD-214 .
- Form SF-8 or SF-50 .
- Your bank account number and routing number .
- For each employer that you worked for in the last 18 months, provide the following:
- Complete name, address, and phone number of employer
- Your occupation with that employer
- Beginning and ending dates of employment
- Reason for separation
If you meet these requirements, you can file your unemployment claim online. The information you submit is confidential and the website is secure. If you have a question about your claim or about unemployment insurance, contact the Division of Unemployment Insurance.
New Jersey Anchor Property Tax Rebates
Like many states, New Jersey is rolling out a tax rebate program for its residents. One such program is the ANCHOR program which expands eligibility via property tax rebates for those who owned or rented their principal residence as of October 1, 2019. The following are qualifying income limits.
- Homeowners with income of $150,000 or less will receive $1,500.
- Homeowners with income of more than $150,000 and up to $250,000 will receive $1,000.
- Renters with income of $150,000 or less will receive $450.
You will need to apply by filing your ANCHOR benefit application by January 31, 2023, with direct deposit or rebates to be made by Spring of 2023.
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Getting Extended Unemployment Benefits
In times of high unemployment, the state and sometimes the federal Department of Labor will extend federal unemployment benefits to New Jerseyans. For example, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Trump administration enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act , which provided more flexibility to state UI agencies.
Additionally, it passed the CARES Act, expanding funds for most workers, including those not typically covered by UI such as the self-employed and independent contractors who received funds through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.
On July 1, 2020, the Garden Stateâs high unemployment rate allowed the NJDLWD to extend benefits by 13 weeks to those who had exhausted them as long as they met the minimum earnings requirements and their initial claim was filed on May 12, 2019 or later. Federal UI payments expired on September 4, 2021, and the stateâs program ended on April 9, 2022.
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How To Apply For New Jersey Unemployment Benefits
If you dont have a UI account, you must first register by visiting . While registering, you will be asked to submit several documents. Some of them include:
- Your mail ID and phone number
- Your Social Security Number
- Your employers address
- Your employers names
- Your Alien Registration Number, if you are a non-U.S. citizen
If you already have an account, login using your credentials, and file an unemployment claim. You can also apply by calling your nearest Reemployment Call Center.
Note that you can file a claim online only if:
- All of your employment in the last 18 months was in New Jersey
- You reside within the United States
- You did not serve in the military in the last 18 months
- You were not a maritime employee in the last 18 months
- You were not a federal government employee in the last 18 months
Upon applying, the Department will review your application and send an approval mail. It is important that you apply for benefits every 2 weeks to receive continued payment.
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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.
A Guide To The Extended Unemployment Benefits In New Jersey
As regular Unemployment Insurance begins to expire for more than 1.4 million New Jerseyans, the state Legislature has passed a new bill that allows more unemployed people to receive extended unemployment benefits in New Jersey. So, who qualifies for the Extended Benefits in New Jersey under the new bill? Know it here!
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Policy Basics: How Many Weeks Of Unemployment Compensation Are Available
Workers in most states are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits from the regular state-funded unemployment compensation program, although ten states provide fewer weeks, and two provide more. Extended Benefits are not triggered on in any state. Additional weeks of pandemic federal benefits ended in all states on September 6, 2021.
The federal-state unemployment insurance system helps many people who have lost their jobs by temporarily replacing part of their wages. Under certain circumstances, unemployed workers who exhaust their regular state-funded unemployment benefits before they can find work can receive additional weeks of benefits.
Under the CARES Act responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, all states received access to federal funding to provide additional weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Assistance benefits to people who exhausted their regular state benefits, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to many others who lost their jobs through no fault of their own but who were not normally eligible for UI in their state. These and other pandemic-related emergency UI programs ended nationwide the first weekend of September 2021, but many states stopped providing these federal benefits before that.
The map below shows the maximum number of weeks of benefits that are currently available in each state.
The two states providing more than the 26-week maximum are:
The states providing fewer than the standard 26-week maximum include:
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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Unemployment Program Extensions Under Biden Arpa Stimulus Package
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.
Am I Eligible For Regular Unemployment Compensation
Each state sets its own unemployment insurance benefits eligibility guidelines, but you usually qualify if you:
- Are unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you have to have separated from your last job due to a lack of available work.
- Meet work and wage requirements. You must meet your states requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established period of time referred to as a base period.
- Meet any additional state requirements. Find details of your own states program.
My benefits are ending. Are other resources available?
See links to assistance with food, housing, child care, health, and more.
Why canât I claim my remaining UI balance?
For PUA/PEUC recipients, the balance represents the maximum that was available for weeks of unemployment before 9/4/21.
How do you verify my identity?
To reduce the risk of fraud, many unemployment claimants must verify their identity using the security vendor ID.me.
How can I reset my PIN or password?
We can help if youre having trouble with your online account password and/or PIN to certify for weekly benefits.
Federal benefits created during the benefit expired September 4, 2021.
You will still be able to receive benefits for eligible weeks prior to September 4, 2021.
What does it mean if my claim is pending, or not payable at this time?
Many claimants see these messages and arent sure what, if anything, they need to do about them.
How do I complete an application?
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Understanding New Jersey Unemployment Benefits
Some New Jersey workers who lose their jobs may be eligible for unemployment benefits. These are payments that are made to employees whose job losses were not their fault. The purpose of unemployment benefits is to help workers to pay for their living expenses until they are able to find new jobs. Not all workers are eligible for these benefits, however. The attorneys at Swartz Swidler may provide guidance about unemployment eligibility to workers who have lost their jobs.
Weeks Of Unemployment Insurance Available And Unemployment Rates
The remaining six states periodically update their maximum weeks of UI available based on changes in the states unemployment rate:
- Alabama currently provides up to 14 weeks of UI for new enrollees, with an additional five-week extension for those enrolled in a state-approved training program
- Georgia provides 14 weeks of UI, but in the COVID-19 emergency that has been increased to 26 weeks
- Florida currently provides up to 12 weeks for claims filed after January 1, 2022
- Idaho currently provides up to 20 weeks for new enrollees based on its November unemployment rate
- Kansas currently provides up to 16 weeks of UI and
- North Carolina currently provides up to 12 weeks for claims filed after January 1, 2022.
Kentucky and Oklahoma also have enacted legislation that would cut their maximum number of weeks of benefits beginning in 2023.
State laws in many states with a maximum of 26 weeks employ a sliding scale based on a workers earnings history to determine the maximum number of weeks for which an individual worker qualifies. Except in Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico, many UI recipients maximum is fewer than 26 weeks.
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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
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Extended Unemployment Benefits Will End For 20k Nj Workers
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz– March 31, 2022 6:59 am
A federal program providing extended unemployment benefits was trigged in 2020 when the jobless rate skyrocketed.
Tens of thousands of people will lose their weekly unemployment benefits starting next week.
The Department of Labor announced the federal unemployment program known as Extended Benefits will end for about 20,000 New Jerseyans on April 9. The program provided up to 13 weeks of additional jobless benefits for people who exhausted their 26 weeks of regular benefits.
The federal program was triggered in July 2020 after jobless rates skyrocketed. The states unemployment rate, which reached a record 16.6% in April 2020, dropped in February to 4.6%, below the threshold required to continue to provide the extra benefits.
The declining unemployment rate is a great sign of our states economic recovery, Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said in a statement. Knowing the end of these benefits will impact thousands of New Jersey families, we remain committed to helping residents transition back into the workforce.
People with jobless claims may still see a balance left on their claim after the extended benefits expire, but federal rules bar them from claiming the money.
The state Department of Labor has disbursed $1.3 billion in extended benefit payments since the pandemic led to mass layoffs and monthslong business shutdowns.
by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey MonitorMarch 31, 2022
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How Much Unemployment Can I Currently Get In New Jersey
With the expiry the pandemic unemployment programs, only traditional/regular state unemployment is available for full or partial unemployment claims. The table below provides key details on the latest unemployment benefits and qualifying wage requirements.
You will need to submit a claim or certify your application via the states unemployment website to get your actual weekly benefit amount.
Note that to qualify for unemployment, your job or hours worked loss will generally need to be involuntary. I.e. through no fault of your own or via directly quitting. Your job and wages must also have been paid/covered by an employer or source that deducted unemployment insurance taxes per state law .
Further if you are being paid severance via a layoff or able to use sick leave or paid vacation, you cannot claim unemployment.
You will also need to certify for benefits at regular intervals , demonstrate ongoing work availability and evidence of job search requirements to keep getting weekly unemployment benefits.
Why is my weekly benefit payment lower than the maximum amount?
Your actual weekly benefit amount or rate is the amount of money your state agency has determined you and your dependents may receive for regular unemployment insurance after filing a claim. This can change weekly based on your certification or claim for benefits.
Also note that that your state UI agency may deduct overpayments and court-ordered child support from your weekly payment. This will reduce your WBA.
