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TRENTON March 20, 2009 – As of the week ending March 21, 2009, the state of New Jersey will qualify for the federally funded Extended Benefits (EB) program under the guidelines of the Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 and the New Jersey Extended Benefits Law.

In February, President Obama signed the Assistance for Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act providing 100 percent federal funding for the Extended Benefits (EB) program

With the EB program available in New Jersey, qualified individuals are potentially eligible for up to 26 weeks of regular state UI benefits, up to 20 weeks of EUC Tier I benefits, up to 13 weeks of EUC Tier II benefits and up to 13 weeks of EB benefits, for a total maximum of 72 weeks of benefits.

There is no need to contact the Reemployment Call Center or contact the One-Stop Career Center in reference to this extension.

As with regular unemployment insurance, after individuals exhaust their benefits they will be mailed notification about their eligibility for extended benefit programs including the EB program.  Eligible individuals also will be mailed instructions on how to certify to receive the new benefits.  Please note that there is no need to call or file a new claim to receive any of the extensions; the department automatically will enroll individuals to qualify for their next extension after their last check is mailed.

The first week that EB benefits are payable in New Jersey is the week ending March 21, 2009.  Those who exhaust their Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier II benefits on or after the week ending March 21, 2009 will be mailed a separate monetary determination and a separate letter explaining their rights and responsibilities under the EB program.

Individuals who exhaust EUC Tier II benefits the week of March 21, 2009, will receive an EB information packet by April 9, 2009.  Any individuals exhausting EUC Tier II benefits after April 9, 2009, will receive their EB information packet within a few days after receiving their last EUC Tier II benefits.

Individuals are asked to carefully read all information concerning the EB program as the EB benefits require additional reporting of the individual’s efforts to search for work and accepting offers of employment.  Failure to meet these requirements may result in an individual’s indefinite disqualification for EB benefits.

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