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New Jersey Unemployment Benefit Extension Information

The state of New Jersey has been hit quite hard by the current economic downtown and state unemployment levels have been rising.  The unemployment rate in NJ is now 9.7% (up from 9.3% prior to August) which is coincidentally the same as the national average.  New Jersey has lost 155,700 jobs since December 2007, when the jobless rate was 4.5 percent.

As a result of these  high unemployment rates New Jersey state has qualified for unemployment benefit extensions which were introduced as part of the 2009 stimulus package.

Unemployment benefits currently available in New Jersey

At the moment there are a total of 79 weeks of unemployment available:

  • Initial unemployment benefits (UB – 26 weeks) – These are the regular unemployment benefits which are available regardless of the economy.
  • Emergency unemployment benefits Tier I (EUC Tier I – 20 weeks)
  • Emergency unemployment benefits Tier II (EUC Tier II – 13 weeks)
  • Emergency benefits will be paid by the same method as the regular benefits (direct deposit or check).
  • Extended benefits (EB – 20 weeks)
  • 13 weeks from bill H3548 – Note that this has not passed yet.


The past year has not been very good for a lot of American workers.  Because of the 2008 financial crisis and recession – millions of Americans have lost their jobs.  The current national unemployment rate is 9.7% as of Sept 4.  While many workers will find new jobs within the time period of existing employment benefits – many more will run out of benefits before finding a new job.

On September 22, the House passed legislation called Bill H3548 which will allow any states with a total unemployment rate (TUR) of 8.5% or higher to be eligible for federal funding which will allow 13 more weeks of extended unemployment benefits for those people who have exhausted all the current benefits.  If this bill is passed then New Jersey would qualify for another 13 weeks of extended benefits.

294 replies on “New Jersey Unemployment Benefit Extension Information”

Best advise. Sign up for direct deposit. Once u claim ur benefits, deposit is made in 48 hrs. And stressing over the wait for mail ceases.

Folks, I don’t usually forward emails that I receive. But I think this one is important.
*Red Shirt
*
If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man…

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two
together..

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been
invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was
heading home.

No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?

No. I’m escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I’m taking him
home to his family.

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to
the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn’t
know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the
soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations
in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you Thank you
for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made
the following announcement over the intercom.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor
of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on
this flight He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family.
I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward
door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow
soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.”

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant
saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action
made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what
you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday.
The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the
“silent majority.” We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love
for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not
organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our
idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday — and continues each and every Friday until
the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that … Every
red-blooded American who supports our men and women a far, will wear
something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make the United States on every
Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the
bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this
with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be
long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know
the once “silent” majority i s on their side more than ever, certainly
more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make
things better for you?” is. “We need your support and your prayers.”
Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and
wear something red every Friday.

IF YOU AGREE — THEN SEND THIS ON.

IF YOU COULDN’T CARE LESS — THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON

Hey Lynda, thanks for the useless spam. It’s good to know you’re contributing to the world.

i filed last tuesday but have yet to recieve any money even though i have direct deposit. everytime i call them they say due to a high volume of callers my cal cant be take.. been calling for 2 days now. this is ridiculous.

Arielle, have you read some of the above comments? You were supposed to file on Wednesday. Call your local center, not those numbers they send you on the mail forms they send out. Otherwise you won’t talk to a person until next year.

i did call my local center ….. i even called a few other centers close to me and i still get the same message of too many callers.

Arielle, best thing for you to do is go down to your local office, the place where you had your oreintation when you first opened your claim. That way you can talk to a live person and they can find out what’s going on with your claim. My claim is so screwed up that if i didn’t go down to my office i would have been waiting for month’s for my check. Almost every time they can take care of your problem. Good luck!

And for those who still don’t know or haven’t received yet, we ARE getting the 50$ bi-weekly stimulus checks again.

I had a weird experience. I got a Non-Neg. Check notice telling me to file this week on the 3rd, for just last week ending on the 28th–a 1 week check. I usually file on Tuesdays even though they say to do it on Thursdays all the time, so I did anyway, yesterday the 1st. It went through like normal, but for only 1 week. I have seen most people on here stating that their notice to file again was on the 9th or 10th… I’m confused. Maybe they give people who have exhausted their benefits an extra in between check ? The only other time this happened is when I first started collecting, and was off by a week, so for it to happen now is a little strange. Oh well… I’m not gonna complain about a few hundred extra bucks. I wonder if I’ll have to wait two weeks after this check, also, or if I’ll simply be filing next week on the 9th or 10th like everyone else?

Tom – I just received my $50 check today, so that answers that question. I was one of those people who didn’t even get a next date to claim. I am just going to try on the 9th. If not…then the 10th. How could the state not know they mailed out checks with blank info attached……….??

Hey All! I called yesterday and I was told to claim on the 9th of Dec. I also got an extra check for $50. Hope this helps. My first claim was on the 25th of Nov.

Thanks Lee!! My first claim date was also the 25th. I was going to call on the 9th anyway and if that didn’t work, I would try the 10th. I have been trying to get through for days now and would have more luck winning a radio call-in show than talking to someone at unemployment. 😉

Received my check plus extra $50.00, but I have no idea when to call in to continue my claim because there isn’t a date. Does anyone know the procedure we are to follow?

Allen, I claimed on Nov. 25th, so I probably will try to claim again on the 10th of Dec. That is what a few people on this site were told to do. It is impossible to get threw to unemployment in NJ this week.

Thank you Dottie. Yes it is impossible to get through and the lack of information on such a serious issue for so many people is horrendous. My first check went into paying outstanding bills and the same will be for the second. (I hope) Thanks again.

STILL WAITING ON MONENTARY DETERMINATION LETTER. WENT TO THE UE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD TO KEEP CERTIFIYING WEEKLY NO ONE HAS AN ANSWER AS TO WHEN THE PAYMENTS WILL BE SENT IN GEORGIA. WHEN I CERTIFY IT JUST INSTRUCTS ME TO REPORT TO THE UE OFFICE. IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE WE ARE JUST BEING LED IN ONE BIG CIRCLE. I HOPE IT WILL BE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN, AND THIS SITUATION IS HARD ENOUGH FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND!

Nicole, you should already be getting checks. Do you register online? I’d dig harder if I were you. This extension is already underway. Try applying for your check tomorrow or thursday and see what happens. I bet you already have a new balance…. unless you didn’t work long enough and aren’t eligible for further UEB.

I thought we were having problems in NJ. Sounds like Georgia is in worse shape than us with this extension. Sorry, Nicole. I hope everything works out by Christmas.

I haven’t received my checks neither.I claim the first two weeks and got a non neg. That instructed me to claim one week that non neg.said claim on the 17 th of dec. I’m worried

Just tried to claim my benefits and it gave me a number to call and talk to a rep. Called and being told the network is too busy to talk. I got half a check last check and am looking at a dim xmas for my son and no more food in the house either. Any idea what’s going on?

If you still having problems you must go to your local office .I went today and she said watch the mail its on the way .waitin in line 2 and a half hour was worth it ……go to local office the only way

iv been able to claim every week. you just have to switch it up. one week u claim on the computer, then next week you claim on the phone. i guess its because after u claim online, the system automatically sets up for u to claim again in 2 weeks, but if the next week u claim on the phone, it will let u do it, and then the phone sets up for u to call back in 2 weeks. anyway, all u gotta do is 1 week do it online, next week on the phone.
some1 told me to do it, and it works. so give it a try if u want. specially during this holiday season, its helping me a lot.

Could anyone tell me the date they were told to claim again in 2 weeks in NJ if they last claimed December 1oth. My husband took the check off but now he can’t find the rest of the claim information! Thank you.

Unbelievable. I’ve been receiving for months, and then all of a sudden, I go to login to claim my weekly benefits and the system says to claim by phone. So I claim by phone, and it says “It’s not payable at this time, but i’ll receive credit” whatever that means. So then I call and wait on hold for 20 minutes and the line hangs up on me. Then I call back and wait 16 minutes and the line hangs up on me again. It’s been a week and the check has not been issued and they won’t answer the phone so I’m stuck with no money.

Whoever is still having a problem you must go to your local offfice …don’t wait because you’ll be waiting till someone tell you to go to your local office .don’t waste you time waiting goahead go …!

Daniel,the same thing is happening to me everytime I try to call. I have not received a payment since Nov. 5th. I’m really hurting,I even tried emailing them and got no response.

I just got all my information in the mail. Got a claim date of the 23rd of December, this is my first check. Is there anyway to claim this to have it for Christmas? I have direct deposit set up, I did that when I filed my claim.
Thanks
This is a NJ claim

Dawn,I doubt you’ll have it before X-mas. I just got my second non neg yesterday,and my next claim date is the 17th. I doubt I’ll even have mine before x-mas,and they owe me three checks,plus the three 50$ stimulus checks as well. They almost owe me $1,000 at this point,and I haven’t received any money in a month. I don’t know what’s going on,but it would have been nice if they straightened this out before Christmas. My last two notices said ‘payment pending’. Just send me my money,and stop jerking us around. And would be nice if you could actually SPEAK to a human being when you try to call,and not get hung up on.

i began collectiong unemployment in july of 09, will i get the tier 1 and tier 2 benefits or will i go straight to the last extension when my initial benefits run out.

I had the state of NJ owe me 10 weeks. They just paid two days ago. The best way to speak with a person is to call till you speak to someone. I have tried for hours till I got someone. If you get the message saying that there are too many people waiting at this time, hang up and call back. Often after waiting 25 mins. or more someone answers and there is silence. DO NOT hang up. Wait and someone will say something in a minute or so. I went through the hanging up on me thing as well. Often they answer the phone will still working on the last call. Once again if you get the silence, DO NOT hang up….as long as you phone stills shows that the call is still active.

i’m so frustrated! i’ve been trying to open a claim for the past week and a half and i can’t file it online because I worked in both New York and New Jersey in the past 18 months…i go through the same message every time, get put on hold every time, then have to the provide information every single time …and after all that i get the message “call volumes are high, we cannot take your call , please try again later” ….this is ridiculous! they need a better system, at least tell me that you can’t take my call before i enter all my information ………absolutely ridiculous!

People the only way to fix all of your unemployment problems is to go to your local office this is the ONLY WAY .I CAN’T FILE MY UNEMPLOYMENT ONLINE OR THE PHONE EVERY TIME I CLAIM I HAVE TO DO IT AT THE LOCAL OFFICE. The time you waisting on hold you could be at office .with a check in two days .PEOPLE I SAID THIS 3 TIMES NOW WAITING ON HOLD IS WHY YOUR CHECK IS ON HOLD .GO… GET OFF THE PHONE ….go to you local office….yes you go

My last claim is December 28th. Does anyone know anything about the extenstion of benefits? Will I be receiving anything in the mail to continue or will I have to go to my local office to request for an extension?

Thanks for your help.

Until Obama signs the $636 billion defense bill,which includes the extension (which you are automatically enrolled in if you are on unemployment) and COBRA, we won’t be getting our checks. I haven’t gotten one since November. Get on Obama’s back and tell him to sign the bill. While he’s off in Hawaii surfing,a lot of people didn’t have a Christmas this year. It passed House and Senate,all we are waiting on is Obama to sign it.

I have exausted regular unemployment benefits and am almost out of the first extension. Does the second extension kick in automatically like the first one did, or is there something I need to do? Don’t like just waiting to the last minute to see what will happen.

Linda, I filed on December 23rd and did receive a check on Saturday the 26th. Since you filed the 24th your’s probably is delayed because of holiday. Jane, I am in NJ and have been getting checks since the 25th of November. I know others in NJ that have also been getting extension money since Congress passed bill in November. I needed the new extension that Senate and House passed, so obviously the President must have signed that. THe reason your not getting checks must be something else.

Dot,they must be receiving still from the last extension because the third one hasn’t gone through yet. The Senate only just approved it last Saturday,and Obama has not signed it yet.

Correction,Obama signed the defense bill on the 21st that Senate passed last Saturday the 19th,so I do not know what the delay to the third extension could be. Calling or emailing them is a waste of time. They don’t answer or respond. I’ve been making my claims by phone since November because when I try to do it online it directs me to call instead. It tells me it’s been credited to my account,but can’t be paid at this time. When i receive my notices by mail,there is no check,just a date when to claim next,and says my payments are pending. I have not received a check since November.

Jane,
By reading what other’s have said on this site, the best thing to do is go to your local unemployment center ,if you can, that seems to be the only thing that works when the checks are not coming.

I can’t believe people still asking questions I answerd in my previous post..if you are having problems with your unemployment go to your local office ..this is the only way you are going to solve your problems .no one can answer your questions on this post accuratly ..the system is no working properly .go to your local office .

Dear Jane:

You have no friggen clue what you’re talking about. Instead of raising a big alarm flag to everyone based on your stupid and UNTRUE assumptions, why don’t you get some FACTS and then fix your problem? Moron.

Jane:

You’re claiming nobody will get their benefits until some defense bill is signed, which is untrue, since many of us are getting ours already. It didn’t sound like you were attributing your own experience. It sounds like you’re running around telling everyone that EUB won’t be paid because of some bullcrap you’re making up. I have manners, but when people come in here blurting about we’re all financially doomed over nothing, just because THEY’RE not getting benefits, well… go to hell, lady.

does every one know that you can get weekly checks? i call every tuesday and get paid every thursday

LOL,’Some defense bill’?? Yea,no biggie,only another couple hundred billion… and YOU’RE telling ME I don’t know what I’M talking about?? LOL!! Did you bother to read the article? And if you bothered to read my comment below my original one I posted, I corrected myself about him not signing it yet,which he did on the 21st. And the 3rd extension WOULD NOT have been implemented,nor the COBRA, if he hadn’t signed it. The article I posted states that pretty clearly. The people that are receiving theirs, might be at a different point in their benefits. I don’t know about anyone else,or you personally, but not everyone is at at the same point in their benefits. Or at the same tier. (I would think you would know that) So when I am speaking, I am speaking for myself personally, and the people who may be at the same point in their benefits as I am. And from I can see,people are having ALL kinds of issues,and varied one’s at that. And not just in NJ,but nationally. The only one exaggerating here is you. How you derived what you did,out of what I actually said I have no idea. Blurting out? Running around?? Financially doomed? Well, you might want to speak for yourself and not others because some of us ARE struggling/and or ‘doomed’,or at least it feels that way to some,and have been out of work for OVER a year. And when you haven’t received a check in over a month, and can’t get any answers, help, or even a notification, it can be a little frustrating to say the least. Which is what led me to this site in the first place when looking for answers to my questions, not to because I wanted to be verbally or personally attacked. Happy Holidays to you too.

Here,I’ll make it easy for you- just the part about Unemployment and COBRA
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010564144_defense22.html
“As the last major spending bill of the year, the legislation also carried about $13.3 billion in nondefense spending, most of it for temporary extensions of several domestic programs Congress didn’t have time to consider separately.

Lawmakers extended through February a package of emergency unemployment and health-care benefits that had been part of this year’s economic-stimulus package. Those benefits include health-insurance subsidies for laid-off workers under a federal program called COBRA. The benefit had been slated to expire at the end of this month.”

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