State of New Jersey SealOfficial Site of The State of New Jersey

The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google™ Translate. Google™ Translate is an online service for which the user pays nothing to obtain a purported language translation. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. -Read Full Disclaimer close

Division of Unemployment Insurance

Federal and State Extended Benefits

people walking on a busy street

To learn more about available extensions of or additions to unemployment benefits, see the information below.

How many weeks of unemployment benefits can I currently receive?

Those who meet the requirements for traditional unemployment insurance may receive benefits for up to 26 weeks during a one-year period.

Can I receive the funds in my unemployment account after federal benefits expired?

The federal benefits created during the pandemic, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) ended September 4, 2021. Any funds that appear as remaining in your unemployment account related to these federal programs will not be available for certification or payment for weeks of unemployment ending after September 4, 2021.

Why are my benefits for this week less than previous weeks?

Federal legislation expanded unemployment benefits. This included Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments, which provides an additional $300 to weekly unemployment benefits to unemployed workers. These benefits expired September 4, 2021. If you are still receiving unemployment benefits after September 4, 2021, your benefit payment will no longer include the FPUC payment.

Additionally, federal law requires a review for new wages after one year, once a claim reaches “benefit year end”. Before September 4, 2021, when claimants on Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) reached benefit year end and qualified for a new claim, NJDOL determined their new benefit rate based on the previous year’s earnings. If the benefit rate was at least $25 less than the original (first year’s) claim, NJDOL paid claimants the higher rate. After September 4, 2021, because PEUC expired, NJDOL returned such claims to the original, lower weekly benefit rate.

What are state extended unemployment benefits (EB)?

State extended unemployment benefits (EB) are additional weeks of benefits available to some unemployment insurance benefit recipients. The state’s ability to give these additional weeks is based on NJ’s unemployment rate. On April 17, 2021, NJ’s unemployment rate triggered the availability of up to 13 weeks of EB. Per federal law, this program ended on April 9, 2022, due to the state’s declining unemployment rate.

How is eligibility for state extended unemployment benefits (EB) determined?

There are several criteria you must meet to be eligible for state extended unemployment benefits (EB). They are different from the requirements for regular unemployment benefits and federal extended unemployment benefits.

Type of Unemployment Claim: Claimants must be receiving regular/traditional unemployment benefits or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) to receive EB. Claimants receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) are not eligible for EB. To learn the type of unemployment benefits you are receiving, check your claim status.

Date of Claim: Claims must be dated May 12, 2019 or later. Claims dated before May 12, 2019 are not eligible for EB. Your date of claim is listed on your claim status.

Residency: Claimants living and working in NJ have met this requirement. For claimants who work in NJ but live in another state, there are two options:

(For information on New York’s EB status, visit here. For information on Pennsylvania's EB status, visit here.)

Monetary Requirement: To be eligible for EB through April 9, 2022, you must have either earned:

Have not already received EB: Some claimants may have already received EB on their claim between exhausting their regular unemployment benefits and before receiving PEUC. You may only receive EB once per claim.

Please note: Claimants who were disqualified for misconduct or refused suitable work will have to meet additional requirements to be eligible for EB. You would have received notification through postal mail from the Department if you were disqualified.

What unemployment benefits were available under the federal stimulus bills?

The CARES Act that was signed March 27, 2020 provided unemployment assistance to many NJ workers impacted by COVID-19. The Continued Assistance Act, signed December 27, 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act signed March 11, 2021 extended this assistance. Pandemic-related federal unemployment benefits expired September 4, 2021.

Under these laws, there were three types of assistance:

    1. Are not eligible for unemployment benefits in any state, including self-employed workers (independent contractors, “gig” workers)
    2. Are 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. Are able to demonstrate labor market attachment, through earnings or an official work offer.

    Please note that you will still be able to receive benefits for weeks prior to September 4, if you are found eligible for a claim filed before September 4, 2021.

    What is Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)?

    The Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program, available from the U.S. Department of Labor, provides an additional payment of $100 per week to eligible claimants for each week they received an unemployment or PEUC payment between the weeks-ending January 2, 2021 and September 4, 2021.

    “Mixed earners” are those workers whose income comes from both W2 wages and self-employment earnings.

    To be considered eligible, you must:

    If you are eligible, here's how to qualify for this supplemental payment:

    1. Sign in to the claimant Self-Service page and check the opt-in box for the MEUC application.
    2. Look for an email within a week from the Division of Unemployment Insurance, which will seek to verify your eligibility.
    3. Click on the link in the email, sign in, and complete the eligibility questionnaire.
    4. Attach your tax return showing at least $5,000 in net income from self-employment during the prior tax year.

    Any payments will be issued weekly within 1 to 2 weeks after you are determined eligible. You do not need to contact us to request payment.

    *Net income from self-employment is the gross income from a trade or business, minus allowable deductions for that trade or business. Allowable deductions are any deductions that are permitted by the Internal Revenue Service, including depreciation. Net income from self-employment also includes any profit or loss in a partnership.

    Why did I receive an additional $300 or $600 in addition to my weekly benefit rate?

    Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

    The American Rescue Plan Act, signed March 11, 2021, extended the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which provides an additional $300 to workers for weeks of unemployment ending on March 11, 2021 through September 4, 2021.

    The CARES Act, signed March 27, 2020, created FPUC, which provides an additional $600 to workers for weeks ending on April 4, 2020 through July 25, 2020.

    NJDOL distributed the payments weekly to those currently claiming regular unemployment benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits.

    Lost Wages Assistance Payments

    Lost Wages Assistance (LWA), also referred to as “FEMA payments,” was a limited-time federal program that paid a $300 weekly supplemental benefit to most workers unemployed for a COVID-19 related reason during the weeks ending August 1, 2020 through September 5, 2020. The maximum benefit was for six weeks, for a total of $1,800. Lost wages supplemental payments ended on December 27, 2020.

    The LWA payments were for claimants who certified that they: