COVID-19: State Promises to Fully Pay All Unemployment Claims Despite Massive System Delays

Published on April 23, 2020

Includes $600 Supplemental Weekly Benefits

More than 140,000 new unemployment claims were filed this week in New Jersey, bringing the total to 858,000 claims filed and 556,000 processed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

(JPG, 7KB) Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo

The record number of claims in Morris County and across the state has overwhelmed the state's system, and those across the nation, said New Jersey Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. But he promised that all residents with valid claims eventually will have their claims processed.

The commissioner said his agency is continuing to backdate claims to ensure that no one loses any benefits -- including $600 weekly supplental payments -- even if they have not been able to contact an agent.

New Jersey workers collecting unemployment received their second $600 supplemental weekly benefit deposited in their accounts. The second supplemental payment was for the week ending April 11. This additional benefit will continue weekly through the end of July.

A series of basic questions about the current situation was posed to Commissioner Asaro-Angelo in a roi-nj.com webinar which might be of interest to Morris County residents who are seeking benefits but having great difficulty connecting to the system.

The Department of Labor noted that simplified guides have been posted for independent contractors/freelancers/self-employed that explain the benefits and can walk them through the application process. Those guides can be found at https://bit.ly/2VRSZUK.

Anyone looking for work is encouraged to visit New Jersey's jobs portal -- jobs.covid19.nj.gov -- which matches jobseekers with tens of thousands of immediate openings in industries on the frontlines of the pandemic, such as food distribution, warehousing and health care.