NJ: Unemployment Extension Tiers (collecting, claim, qualify, work)

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by NJUnemployed13

I've been collecting UE for about 55 weeks since Nov of 09. I'm currently collecting Tier 2 EB. I went to claim my benefits like normal the other day and it stated that I may not be eligible. I received a non negotiable check in the mail today stating that previous weeks are pending.

Does anyone have an idea why this happened?? What should I do?

Thanks

You reached your one-year anniversary on unemployment -- and everyone needs to re-certify on their one-year anniversary. Until you re-certify, the system freezes your account. The system will continue to accept your bi-weekly claim, but no payment will be released.

• The NJ system will not accept re-certification on line. You must speak directly with an agent to re-certify.

• The process is simple: You contact an agent. Explain that it is your one-year anniversary and that you need to re-certify. While you are on the phone, the agent will check to see if you qualify for a new claim. (If you worked during the past year, you may have enough credits for a new claim.)

• If you do not qualify for a new claim, your current claim is immediately reopened. The agent then arranges for your payments to continue where they left off. If you are owed any back weeks (for which you filed while your account was frozen), you will be paid retroactively.

Remember -- you need to talk with an agent ASAP. You'll get no payments until an agent re-certifies you and manually reopens your account.

BTW, Tier 2 is part of the EUC Tier program -- it is not EB. The NJ unemployment website has a description of the various levels of unemployment benefits: Department of Labor and Workforce Development | Unemployment Benefit Extensions

[NJUnemployed13]

Originally Posted by diorgirl

You reached your one-year anniversary on unemployment -- and everyone needs to re-certify on their one-year anniversary. Until you re-certify, the system freezes your account. The system will continue to accept your bi-weekly claim, but no payment will be released.

• The NJ system will not accept re-certification on line. You must speak directly with an agent to re-certify.

• The process is simple: You contact an agent. Explain that it is your one-year anniversary and that you need to re-certify. While you are on the phone, the agent will check to see if you qualify for a new claim. (If you worked during the past year, you may have enough credits for a new claim.)

• If you do not qualify for a new claim, your current claim is immediately reopened. The agent then arranges for your payments to continue where they left off. If you are owed any back weeks (for which you filed while your account was frozen), you will be paid retroactively.

Remember -- you need to talk with an agent ASAP. You'll get no payments until an agent re-certifies you and manually reopens your account.

BTW, Tier 2 is part of the EUC Tier program -- it is not EB. The NJ unemployment website has a description of the various levels of unemployment benefits: Department of Labor and Workforce Development | Unemployment Benefit Extensions

Thank you! This was very helpful.. I've been trying to get a hold of an agent for 3 days now but every time I call it states that 'due to the high volume of calls they cant take my call'. I try calling at different times all day. Hopefully I will get through to someone today!

[diorgirl]

Originally Posted by NJUnemployed13

Thank you! This was very helpful.. I've been trying to get a hold of an agent for 3 days now but every time I call it states that 'due to the high volume of calls they cant take my call'. I try calling at different times all day. Hopefully I will get through to someone today!

If you go to your local UI office and use the phone bank there, the wait is much shorter and your call will be answered much more quickly. Most of the centers do not have people who can handle the re-certification in person, but their phone lines to the central group have shorter wait times.

[vllygrrl]

Originally Posted by NJUnemployed13

I've been collecting UE for about 55 weeks since Nov of 09. I'm currently collecting Tier 2 EB. I went to claim my benefits like normal the other day and it stated that I may not be eligible. I received a non negotiable check in the mail today stating that previous weeks are pending.

Does anyone have an idea why this happened?? What should I do?

Thanks

I found that calling later in the day was much quicker than any time before lunch. If you cannot go to the unemployment office, as DiorGirl suggested, have a speakerphone available, so that you can set it down while you wait. I spent a total of 45 minutes on the phone when I went through this process last week, only 5 of which were with an actual human, LOL!

[Fabs139]

Hello, my Extended Benefits in NJ is going to be exhausted by the end of 2010. I have heard today that the unemployment extension is now in Congress for final approval. If there is an extension approved, will I be eligible for the extension as well even though Extended Benfits seems to be the last tier for NJ.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by Fabs139

Hello, my Extended Benefits in NJ is going to be exhausted by the end of 2010. I have heard today that the unemployment extension is now in Congress for final approval. If there is an extension approved, will I be eligible for the extension as well even though Extended Benfits seems to be the last tier for NJ.

No. If you have exhausted all 99 weeks, including 20 weeks of NJ EB, there are no further benefits provided in this legislation.

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by Fabs139

Hello, my Extended Benefits in NJ is going to be exhausted by the end of 2010. I have heard today that the unemployment extension is now in Congress for final approval. If there is an extension approved, will I be eligible for the extension as well even though Extended Benfits seems to be the last tier for NJ.

So that others reading this thread are not even more confused:
The Unemployment extension is solely to extend the dates you can get into the Tier system. It does not ADD any more weeks of benefits.
Extended Benefits are not a "Tier" and exhausting the Tiers are a prerequisite to receiving Extended Benefits.

Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08)
is the 53 weeks comprised of Tiers I, II, III, and IV.

Extended Benefits (in certain States)
is the 20 weeks of benefits comprised of Regular EB of 13 weeks plus High EB of 7 weeks, after EUC08 is exhausted.

[nobodywantsme]

Originally Posted by wannabee

So that others reading this thread are not even more confused:
The Unemployment extension is solely to extend the dates you can get into the Tier system. It does not ADD any more weeks of benefits.
Extended Benefits are not a "Tier" and exhausting the Tiers are a prerequisite to receiving Extended Benefits.

Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08)
is the 53 weeks comprised of Tiers I, II, III, and IV.

Extended Benefits (in certain States)
is the 20 weeks of benefits comprised of Regular EB of 13 weeks plus High EB of 7 weeks, after EUC08 is exhausted.

There are way too many 99ers thoroughly confused about pending extensions...there is NO TIER 5 and NO EXTENSION beyond 99 weeks...The only thing worse than a hopeless 99er is a hopeful one

[wannabee]

Originally Posted by nobodywantsme

There are way too many 99ers thoroughly confused about pending extensions...there is NO TIER 5 and NO EXTENSION beyond 99 weeks...The only thing worse than a hopeless 99er is a hopeful one

Yes, 99ers and even 26ers are confused and they pose their questions here and some of us try to answer them as best as we can. Many of us here have been telling the 99ers that there is NO TIER 5 and NO EXTENSION beyond 99 weeks and you already know that. Got it. Being a 99er isn't a choice but being hopeful or hopeless is. Hope is the only thing a 99er can afford, why knock it?

Don't hate me because I'm a 99er.

[nobodywantsme]

I don't hate you or anyone else...I'll be a 99er very shortly...I just want to tell "Charlie Brown" that he shouldn't kick the football when "Lucy" is holding it...He'll be disappointed everytime