Official Site of The State of New Jersey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 2, 2021

TRENTON – Expanded unemployment insurance (UI) benefits established under the federal CARES Act in March 2020, and renewed by the Continued Assistance Act in December 2020 and again by the American Rescue Plan in March, are expiring Sept. 4.   

Enhanced UI benefits were quickly enacted as the COVID-19 pandemic uprooted millions of workers across the country, causing many to abruptly lose their jobs or prevent them from finding new ones. These programs provided supplemental funds on top of regular UI payments, and extended benefits to those who typically would have been ineligible.  

Among the programs expiring Sept. 4 are: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provided unemployment benefits to self-employed workers, independent contractors and others who are not typically eligible for benefits; Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which extended unemployment payments to those who already exhausted regular unemployment benefits; and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which added a weekly supplemental payment to regular unemployment.  

These programs are ending, and claimants will not be able to claim benefits under these programs for weeks after Sept. 4 regardless of whether a balance appears on their accounts. Claimants certifying for weeks prior to Sept. 4 will receive the enhanced benefits if found eligible for a claim that was filed before Sept. 4.  

Claimants who exhaust their 26 weeks of regular state unemployment benefits beyond Sept. 4 and have not yet collected state extended benefits will be transitioned to 13 weeks of state extended benefits, if eligible. These extended benefits were triggered in July 2020 due to the state’s unemployment rate. Claimants moved to state extended benefits will see “Extended Unemployment Benefits” as their claim status in their accounts.  

Additionally, federally required reviews for new wages, which occur after one year, when a claim reaches its benefit year end, may result in a lower weekly benefit rate for some claimants starting on Sept. 5.  

New Jersey, which was experiencing record low unemployment before the pandemic, reached historic numbers of unemployment claims in the weeks and months following the arrival of COVID-19 in the United States. With the aid of the enhanced federal unemployment benefits programs, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has paid $34 billion in benefits to more than 1.6 million claimants since March 2020, including to hundreds of thousands who would have been ineligible for benefits without the federal expansions.  

More than two dozen states across the nation halted federal enhanced unemployment benefits months before the Sept. 4 expiration with the intention of spurring job gains. Several recent studies, including one published late last month by economists from Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Toronto, found that this move had little impact on employment.  

“New Jersey has continually used every program and tool in our arsenal to get as many benefits to as many claimants as quickly as possible,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We understand these federally enhanced benefits have been a lifeline to our workforce and our economy during these trying times; our Department and our State will continue to support those in need, and assist those looking for work.”  

For the most up-to-date information on New Jersey unemployment insurance benefits, please visit myunemployment.nj.gov.  

NJDOL’s Workforce Division has been assisting job seekers virtually and by telephone throughout the pandemic. Those seeking career services are encouraged to visit careerservices.nj.gov for help with their job search, resume writing, interviewing skills, education and training, and other specialized career services. 

Also available are FREE training courses provided by Metrix Learning. Courses are offered in a variety of high-demand industry sectors, including information technology, business analysis, customer service, project management, and digital literacy. Courses range from basic work readiness for new workers to tailored training for high-level professionals and management, with topics such as Customer Service, Microsoft Office, Adobe, Quick Books, Analytical Skills, Data Management/Reporting, Time Management, Leadership Skills, Health & Safety, and First Aid, among many others.  

There are also numerous state and community programs and resources available to those who need additional support. For information on assistance in the areas of family, food, child care, health, substance use disorder, rent, housing, utilities, and specialized services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of domestic or sexual violence, please visit myunemployment.nj.gov/morehelp.  

New Jersey residents who have received at least one week of unemployment compensation in 2021 are eligible for nearly free health coverage through GetCoveredNJ.  

Another helpful resource is NJ 211, a statewide information and referral service for a wide variety of health and human services. Search the online resource database, or dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211 for live assistance.

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