Official Site of The State of New Jersey

IMPORTANT: Just over 100,000 New Jerseyans who are potentially eligible to receive FEMA Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) can still certify for the benefit. 

Claimants who are potentially eligible are being notified via email and text message Tuesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 11 with instructions. 

The email address is ui-noreply@dol.nj.gov with the name displaying as NJDOL; text messages will come from 898-211. These notifications will go to the email addresses and phone numbers claimants have provided. Anyone who thinks they may be eligible but did not receive notice should check their spam folder.  

Those who are notified need to take action by 11:59 pm Thursday. Anyone who does not receive notification from the Labor Department is not eligible for the FEMA payments. There is no need to call the Labor Department. 

The federal $300 weekly payments are for claimants who: 

• were unemployed for all or part of the six-week period from Aug. 1 through Sept. 5;
• were eligible for at least $100 in unemployment benefits; and  
• were unemployed for a COVID-19 related reason.

The FEMA payment is a limited-time supplemental benefit of $300 per week for maximum of six weeks, or $1,800. New Jersey is issuing lump-sum payments. 

Eligible claimants can expect to receive payment in their direct deposit accounts or debit cards Tuesday, November 17 or Wednesday, November 18, depending on their bank.

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which provided an additional $600 weekly payment to everyone collecting unemployment, ran through July 25.

Federal law prohibits us from distributing benefits beyond the week ending July 25. However, payments will be made on all eligible claims for the weeks ending April 4 through July 25, even after the program expires.

• Not all claimants automatically qualify for state-issued extended benefits. Per New Jersey law, some workers who do not meet the minimum earnings requirement(s) will not be eligible to receive the 20-week state extension. If you are ineligible for the 20-week state extension, you may qualify for additional weeks if you meet the criteria for a PUA claim. Keep an eye on your email and keep checking our web site for updates and instructions. There may be a delay in reaching out to you.
  
  
• Eligible claimants will be automatically enrolled into state-issued extended benefits as their federal extension ends. You do not need to contact an agent or reapply.
  
  
• Download the Extended Benefits Rights & Responsibilities guide.
• Background: The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced on July 1 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. The state extension kicks in after claimants exhaust up to 26 weeks of state unemployment, plus 13 weeks of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The additional 20 weeks of benefits brings to 59 the maximum number of weeks an eligible claimant may receive in benefits at this time.
  

SCENARIO A: Do these describe you?

1. On a date after July 8, 2018, I filed for unemployment.
2. I have not worked since the dates in 2018-2020 when I collected unemployment.
3. I have exhausted my balance OR my benefit year ended on my most recent claim.
4. I did not receive 13 weeks of PEUC on any claim.

If these describe you, certify for weekly benefits on your scheduled day/time. PEUC will be added to an eligible claim automatically.

SCENARIO B: Do these describe you?

1. On a date after July 8, 2018, I filed for unemployment.
2. I have worked since the dates in 2018-2019 when I collected unemployment.

If both describe you, file a new claim if you haven’t already.

SCENARIO C: Do these describe you?

1. On a date after July 1, 2019, I filed for unemployment benefits.
2. I have not utilized all 26 weeks of benefits.

If both describe you, re-open your claim if currently closed. Begin certifying for benefits again.