The Department of Labor is extending unemployment benefits for an additional 20 weeks. Eligible workers can now earn a total of 59 weeks of benefits.
The update was first reported on Wednesday by NJ Advance Media.
The report also said that workers, independent contractors and freelancers will be eligible for an additional seven weeks, bringing their maximum benefit period to 46 weeks.
These types of workers wonder why their length is limited.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the coronavirus relief program under which they qualify for benefits, only allows the additional seven weeks, the Labor Department said.
That’s how the program was designed, said agency spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi.
“Independent contractors, who normally would not qualify for unemployment because neither they nor their employer contributed to the fund from which benefits are obtained, are eligible under the CARES Act for 26 weeks of benefits plus 13 weeks of extended federal benefits plus seven weeks of been extended benefits, totaling 46 weeks, “he said.
The cost of these benefits is half covered by the federal government and half covered by the state.
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Gig workers are also eligible for an additional $ 600 weekly benefit, which is funded by the federal government and runs through the week ending July 25.
The extended benefits announced Wednesday began because the state reached certain benchmarks set by the federal government, including a high unemployment rate, which was 15.2 percent in May, the state said.
More than 1.3 million workers have applied for unemployment benefits in New Jersey, and 1.1 million, or 96% of those deemed eligible, have received at least one payment, the Labor Department said.
Last month, the Labor Department said it would replenish the state unemployment fund for August, September, and October with $ 1.7 billion in federal loans.
So far, the state has paid $ 2.9 billion in state unemployment benefits and $ 6.2 billion in federal benefits through the CARES Act, the agency said.
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