New Jersey Extends Unemployment Benefits 20 Weeks

NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development said on Wednesday that it would begin providing 20 weeks of extended unemployment this week to New Jersey workers who have exhausted their state and federal jobless benefits.

Ordinarily, New Jersey residents can get unemployment for 26 weeks. But state and federal changes due to the coronavirus crisis have extended benefits and added funds to the weekly payout. This brings the maximum payout to 59 weeks.

Additionally, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which brought an additional $600 weekly payment to everyone collecting unemployment, runs through July 25.

The 20-week state extension kicks in after claimants exhaust up to 26 weeks of state unemployment plus 13 weeks of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).

Claimants will be automatically enrolled into extended benefits as their federal extension ends. They do not need to contact an agent or reapply.

The state is able to offer these extended benefits because it has reached federally mandated requirements, such as the rate of unemployment, which was recorded at 15.2 percent in May.

“New Jersey went from being at almost full employment last winter to double-digit unemployment almost overnight,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo Wednesday. “These triggers are put in place for just such eventualities – so that claimants have access to an income safety net for an extended period of time during times of high unemployment.”

All the states except South Dakota have begun offering extended benefits.

Independent contractors, self-employed workers, and others receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will see their benefits end in December, after a maximum of 46 weeks, which includes extended benefits.

To read more about applying for New Jersey unemployment and other benefits:

• How do you file for unemployment, and which other help might you be eligible for during the crisis? READ MORE.
• Many residents had trouble applying for benefits, and the state finally responded.
• Unemployment claims in NJ surpassed one million in May.
• The system was always difficult to access, says our Patch columnist.

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