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Division of Unemployment Insurance URL reading ( My Unemployment . NJ . Gov )

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): Expanded Unemployment Eligibility During the Coronavirus Emergency

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Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a federal unemployment benefit program that expanded eligibility to workers. These benefits expired September 4, 2021. Please note that, for existing claims, you will still be eligible to receive benefits for weeks prior to September 4, if you are found eligible for a claim filed before September 4, 2021. After September 4, 2021, no new applications will be assessed for PUA.

Through September 4, 2021, PUA provides benefits for NJ workers who are:

  1. not eligible for unemployment benefits in any state, including self-employed workers (independent workers, “gig” workers)

  2. otherwise able and available to work except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to a COVID-19 qualifying reason, and

  3. able to demonstrate labor market attachment, through earnings or an official work offer.