TRENTON, August 28, 2009 –The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development today began reaching out to 33,000 unemployed workers who are approaching the final payment available to them under all regular New Jersey Unemployment Benefits and all Federal Emergency and Extended Unemployment Benefit Programs.

Governor Corzine is urging President Obama and the Congress to provide additional weeks of extended benefits to individuals who remain unemployed after exhausting all currently offered unemployment benefits.  However, at this time, no additional Federal or State assistance is available through the Unemployment Insurance System.

The Department will notify all potentially eligible individuals by mail if any additional extensions of unemployment benefits are enacted by the federal government.

The text of the Commissioner’s letter to claimants follows.

Dear Claimant,

The Department’s records indicate that you will soon exhaust your Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits.  Governor Corzine is urging President Obama and the Congress to provide additional weeks of extended benefits to individuals who remain unemployed after running out of all unemployment benefits.  Unfortunately, at this time, no additional Federal or State assistance is available through Unemployment Insurance. 

I understand that this is an extremely difficult time for you and your family.  Governor Corzine in July asked me to begin looking across state government for any programs that might be of assistance to you once you have exhausted your unemployment benefits.  I encourage you to explore all of the services and programs available to assist you during these challenging economic times.  Please note that even if you were considered ineligible for these services while you were collecting unemployment insurance benefits, you may become eligible when your benefits are exhausted.  You may qualify for services and programs from the following: 

NJHelps is a free, easy and confidential way to determine your eligibility for services and resources.  Please visit http://www.njhelps.org for more information regarding:

• Food and Nutrition 
• Child and Family Resources 
• Income Support for Adults 
• Health Insurance 
• Utility Assistance
• Seniors and People With Disabilities

NJ Housing Resource Center can assist you with finding an affordable place to live, housing options for the disabled and other useful information. Please visit http://www.njhousing.com.       

NJ211 is also a free, confidential and multilingual community resource service provided by the New Jersey United Ways.  You can reach a Resource Specialist by dialing 2-1-1 from a landline or cell phone.

In addition, as you know, your local One-Stop Career Center can help you look for a job.  Job postings and other services are available at www.nj.gov/jobseeker.

I encourage you to investigate all of these programs and sources of support, which may help you meet your needs.  If the federal government provides any additional extended unemployment benefits in the future, all potentially eligible individuals will be notified by mail.

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        David J. Socolow

                                                                        Commissioner

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