Over 90K in NJ to Lose Emergency Unemployment Benefits on Saturday

Just over 90,000 unemployed workers in the state will lose unemployment benefits this weekend, according to a report posted by Democrats on the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee.

According to the report, if Congress allows emergency unemployment compensation to expire, the result would be the loss of unemployment benefits for 90,300 unemployed workers in New Jersey, effective Saturday.

The impact doesn’t end there.

An additional 89,100 unemployed workers would lose their benefits within the first six months of 2014, according to the report, which lists the state unemployment rate at 8.5 percent.

Currently, the maximum number of weeks benefits are available is 63, but Congressional inaction means that number would be reduced to 26 weeks, according to the report, which projects that extending the benefits could save 19,660 jobs in the state.

The average weekly benefit is $381.79.

The possible impact is the highest among any state. About 1.3 million Americans across the nation are projected to lose their benefits, according to the report.

Earlier this month, Congress reached an agreement on the budget that didn’t include an extension for emergency unemployment benefits.