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!WHEN ASKING A QUESTION POST YOUR LOCATION OR OTHERS WILL BE UNABLE TO ASSIST!

You are eligible for the $600 weekly FPUC payment if you are on any sort of unemployment, including PUA and partial unemployment. This is available for claims dated 3/28/20-7/31/20. The federal supplement does not affect eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP. It does affect SNAP and TANF.

If you filed for UI more than a week after your layoff date, you are eligible for backpay.

The obligatory waiting week has been waived, so your claim will process with a date a week earlier than what you apply for, to account for the waiting week waiver.

NY
There is a streamlined application process so that all applicants complete the same form, regardless of which program they'll eventually be eligible for.
PUA:
Unemployment for the self-employed. Acceptable proof of income includes prior year tax returns, 1099, P&L, bank statements and more. You will most likely be approved for standard UI even if you're an independent contractor, if you had W2 employment within the last 18 months.
If you are assigned the minimum rate of $182 when it should be higher based on your income, complete this form, fax it in, then send it again via the message center (Subject1: "Benefit Rate and Monetary Determination" Subject2: "Some of my wages are missing or incorrect") so that they definitely got it. Your rate should be adjusted in less than a week. You are also entitled to get your updated rate on all prior weeks.
You are also eligible for PUA if you landed a job but where unable to start due to the pandemic. You need an employment offer that was then rescinded to prove this.
PUA is available for a total of 46 weeks from 02/02/20-12/31/20.
Partial UI:
You can apply for partial UI if you're working 3 days or less, and earning $504/weekly or less. The DOL deducts 25% of your base rate for every day that you work. (You receive 100% of your rate if you don't work at all, 75% if you work 1 day, 50% if you work 2 days, and 25% if you work 3 days).
PEUC:
For those on regular unemployment- you will receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits after you've exhausted your initial 26 weeks. This benefit is available through 12/31/20.
Extended Benefits:
For those on regular unemployment- you will receive an additional 20 weeks of benefits after you've exhausted your initial 26 weeks and your PEUC weeks. This makes for a total of 59 weeks that you can possible receive unemployment benefits. This benefit is available as long as the state's unemployment rate is high.
Requesting Backpay:
The NY DOL is using Docusign to allow claimants to file backpay. You should receive an email from the DOL with instructions. The email subject is "Action Required - NYS DOL Certification for Back Week Payments". This might end up in your spam folder, so be sure to check that as well.
If you don't receive this email or you don't want to wait, call the NY DOL and speak to an agent to certify for backpay over the phone.
It takes a little less than a week from when you complete backdated certifications until your claims are processed and funds are released.
$0 Benefit Determination:
Email @cgr for instructions on a fix for this issue

You can email @cgr at chaiplus1@gmail.com for help with any unemployment questions.


NJ
Apply here.
PUA:
Unemployment for the self-employed. Acceptable proof of income includes prior year tax returns, 1099, P&L, bank statements and more. You will most likely be approved for standard UI even if you're an independent contractor, if you had W2 employment within the last 18 months.
At this point it looks like claimants are still being given $231- the minimum PUA rate- regardless of prior income.
You are also eligible for PUA if you landed a job but where unable to start due to the pandemic. You need an employment offer that was then rescinded to prove this.
PUA is available for a total of 46 weeks from 02/02/20-12/31/20.
Partial UI:
You can apply for partial UI if your hours have been reduced by 20% or more. You'll be allowed to earn an additional 20% above your rate determination. Your earnings will then be deducted from your rate, and you'll receive the balance as your UI payment.
PEUC:
For those on regular unemployment- you will receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits after you've exhausted your initial 26 weeks. This benefit is available through 12/31/20.
Extended Benefits:
For those on regular unemployment- you will receive an additional 20 weeks of benefits after you've exhausted your initial 26 weeks and your PEUC weeks. This makes for a total of 59 weeks that you can possible receive unemployment benefits. This benefit is available as long as the state's unemployment rate is high.
Requesting Backpay:
You can request backpay if you are lucky enough to get through to an agent.

Here is a guide for NJ residents from the LRRC.
« Last edited by cgr on November 27, 2020, 09:48:37 AM »

Author Topic: Unemployment Help  (Read 483822 times)

Offline Hiding

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1560 on: June 05, 2020, 09:33:33 AM »
If my wife was approved for $231 NJ minimum PUA and she made less than that a week would it disqualify her from getting at all.
Also I got an email to fill out with more wage information for her...if don't fill it out will I still get the $231 a week or will they kick me off? Thanks!!
$231 is the minimum, you have nothing to lose

Offline cgr

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1561 on: June 05, 2020, 10:06:26 AM »
If my wife was approved for $231 NJ minimum PUA and she made less than that a week would it disqualify her from getting at all.
Also I got an email to fill out with more wage information for her...if don't fill it out will I still get the $231 a week or will they kick me off? Thanks!!

On PUA the $ amount of previous wages don't matter- as long as you're approved you get that minimum amount (not to mention +$600 for 03/30-7/26 as well...)

Do reply to that email. They can put a hold on her account and stop payments/certifications if her application isn't fully verified- plus it might trigger an audit.

Offline cgr

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1562 on: June 05, 2020, 10:18:15 AM »
I think it's time for a BUMP. Over 100 pages (on my default DDF settings) and she's still going strong, day and night. Just imaging the cost of consulting an accountant with your questions, and she seems to know more about this topic than any accountant I know.

Easier if it's here.
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=ZJYQXNG59C4NU&currency_code=USD&amount=18&source=url

Thank you to all of you who sent something.
I appreciate even the $5 and $10 contributions- the general feeling of goodwill is what keeps me going, not the amount :) (for those of you who did give more, you create more goodwill of course  ;))

Offline a good yeshiva bachur

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1563 on: June 05, 2020, 10:44:28 AM »
What should I do with my slot to certify is on a Friday night?

Offline Hiding

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1564 on: June 05, 2020, 10:49:49 AM »

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1565 on: June 05, 2020, 11:36:54 AM »
Did you report self employed income. From the many reports I have heard, this happens whenever someone reports self employed income. They then receive an adjudication form to fill out with all the details of the income. This will happen every week that self employed income is reported. Additionally, your claim will also not be able to be paid as long as this is not resolved, even if the next weeks don't have self employed income.
I personally would continue certifying. Why would you not?
My question is, is this due to some rule against earning self employed income, (and in that case, would that be a holdover from pre covid days, or still a problem), or if this simply triggers an automatic manual review just to make sure everything is clear and no fraud. Due to the current situation, it makes sense that it'll take forever.
No I reported W-2 income, not self-employed. We’re filing for partial unemployment to cover the self employed income that was lost, w-2 income is still there.
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Offline Pupashtetl

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1566 on: June 05, 2020, 11:42:18 AM »
I work part time for an employer and I still do, and more recently started a self employment too, which I lost because of COVID 19.
A few days after applying I received a questionnare from NJ unempolyment to fill out, the question is who is my most recent employer, and the date of separation from the most recent employer. Do they mean my self employment, or my employer which I still work for?

Offline skv

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1567 on: June 05, 2020, 11:49:46 AM »
I work part time for an employer and I still do, and more recently started a self employment too, which I lost because of COVID 19.
A few days after applying I received a questionnare from NJ unempolyment to fill out, the question is who is my most recent employer, and the date of separation from the most recent employer. Do they mean my self employment, or my employer which I still work for?

Not sure if the DOL even knows the answer to that... its a computer generated form that only some people get. I've helped lots of people apply and I always just put in the job that they are applying for unemployment for. It seems to work. Also, i've noticed that if you provide the optional documentation at the end of that form, it takes longer to process the claim, so I would skip that

Offline skv

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1568 on: June 05, 2020, 11:57:05 AM »
Did you report self employed income. From the many reports I have heard, this happens whenever someone reports self employed income. They then receive an adjudication form to fill out with all the details of the income. This will happen every week that self employed income is reported. Additionally, your claim will also not be able to be paid as long as this is not resolved, even if the next weeks don't have self employed income.
I personally would continue certifying. Why would you not?
My question is, is this due to some rule against earning self employed income, (and in that case, would that be a holdover from pre covid days, or still a problem), or if this simply triggers an automatic manual review just to make sure everything is clear and no fraud. Due to the current situation, it makes sense that it'll take forever.


It says clearly on the instructions that they give to enter all self employment under question 7b (the not self employment income) instead of 7a (self employment income) to avoid delays in your payments.
The problem is that if you report that you made money one week and no income the next week, they tell you to reopen your claim, but it doesnt work and it still says not payable the next week. Also, if your benefit rate is 231 but should be higher based on your income, it still thinks you made too much to qualify if you make over 277 in a week...

Offline cgr

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1569 on: June 05, 2020, 12:42:30 PM »
I work part time for an employer and I still do, and more recently started a self employment too, which I lost because of COVID 19.
A few days after applying I received a questionnare from NJ unempolyment to fill out, the question is who is my most recent employer, and the date of separation from the most recent employer. Do they mean my self employment, or my employer which I still work for?

Self-employment. If you fill in your W2 info you'll run into issues when your boss rejects your claim because you're still employed by him.
I also suggest you write on it somewhere that your application is PUA for SE job loss, so they realize that you're not trying to claim against W2.

On a separate note, this is still a bigger global issue. There is a possibility that if you only lost SE income and still generate W2 income you might be screwed. States have an obligation to put all applicants on regular UI and only if they can't substantiate a regular UI claim, are they allowed to put that individual on PUA. You have W2 wages on your salary history, which means they'll see that and put you on regular UI. When your boss gets the letter that you are claiming UI, he'll reject the claim (and rightfully so)- ideally they should now put you on PUA, but they might not be able to because of your W2 wage history.

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1570 on: June 05, 2020, 12:45:47 PM »
Also, if your benefit rate is 231 but should be higher based on your income, it still thinks you made too much to qualify if you make over 277 in a week...

Your claim will get rejected that week because the system sees that you earned too much based on your WBR. I'm assuming that once WBRs are adjusted to the corrected amount based on previous income, those PWBR payments that you're now eligible for based on the newly recognized WBR will come through along with the adjustment to all the other previously claimed weeks.

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1571 on: June 05, 2020, 01:15:09 PM »
Sorry in advance if this question was already discussed upthread:

NJ
Was pending for weeks and finally went through - but returned to regular work last week. How can I certify only for the previous weeks? If I enter full wage info for this week will it still give me the option to certify for previous weeks?

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1572 on: June 05, 2020, 01:28:24 PM »
On a separate note, this is still a bigger global issue. There is a possibility that if you only lost SE income and still generate W2 income you might be screwed. States have an obligation to put all applicants on regular UI and only if they can't substantiate a regular UI claim, are they allowed to put that individual on PUA. You have W2 wages on your salary history, which means they'll see that and put you on regular UI. When your boss gets the letter that you are claiming UI, he'll reject the claim (and rightfully so)- ideally they should now put you on PUA, but they might not be able to because of your W2 wage history.
Errr so what can we do if we already in the process with mixed w-2 and SE?
PUTPAC = PITA

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1573 on: June 05, 2020, 01:32:33 PM »

It says clearly on the instructions that they give to enter all self employment under question 7b (the not self employment income) instead of 7a (self employment income) to avoid delays in your payments.
The problem is that if you report that you made money one week and no income the next week, they tell you to reopen your claim, but it doesnt work and it still says not payable the next week. Also, if your benefit rate is 231 but should be higher based on your income, it still thinks you made too much to qualify if you make over 277 in a week...
That's good to know. I'll tell them. I guess they missed that.

Offline Hiding

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1574 on: June 05, 2020, 01:40:06 PM »
Errr so what can we do if we already in the process with mixed w-2 and SE?
I have a similar issue. Fully lost 1099 income but most of W2 income intact. For me it didn't help what was put in, in the questionnaire. They approved only with the W2 income as that is what's on file, and I received for some weeks $0 benefit rate, and obviously no $600. Someone else I know is on the same situation.
LRRC says that if they approved you for only the W2, you should file an appeal. I did that many weeks ago, with no response and no update. Obviously worth a shot.
As cgr said, I don't see why it'll change. Based on how the bill is written, you must first be denied state unemployment to receive PUA. Since you won't be denied, you have a problem. I've seen already weeks ago that California and another state (MI?) state this clearly. I'm hoping this won't be the case, but what's the likelihood based on how the bill is written, and seeing what some states did.

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1575 on: June 05, 2020, 01:52:31 PM »
I have a similar issue. Fully lost 1099 income but most of W2 income intact. For me it didn't help what was put in, in the questionnaire. They approved only with the W2 income as that is what's on file, and I received for some weeks $0 benefit rate, and obviously no $600. Someone else I know is on the same situation.
LRRC says that if they approved you for only the W2, you should file an appeal. I did that many weeks ago, with no response and no update. Obviously worth a shot.
As cgr said, I don't see why it'll change. Based on how the bill is written, you must first be denied state unemployment to receive PUA. Since you won't be denied, you have a problem. I've seen already weeks ago that California and another state (MI?) state this clearly. I'm hoping this won't be the case, but what's the likelihood based on how the bill is written, and seeing what some states did.
How do you know if you were approved based on W-2?
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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1576 on: June 05, 2020, 01:57:19 PM »
I have a similar issue. Fully lost 1099 income but most of W2 income intact. For me it didn't help what was put in, in the questionnaire. They approved only with the W2 income as that is what's on file, and I received for some weeks $0 benefit rate, and obviously no $600. Someone else I know is on the same situation.
LRRC says that if they approved you for only the W2, you should file an appeal. I did that many weeks ago, with no response and no update. Obviously worth a shot.
As cgr said, I don't see why it'll change. Based on how the bill is written, you must first be denied state unemployment to receive PUA. Since you won't be denied, you have a problem. I've seen already weeks ago that California and another state (MI?) state this clearly. I'm hoping this won't be the case, but what's the likelihood based on how the bill is written, and seeing what some states did.

For some reason, the LRRC is convinced that the appeal will work in these cases.
I know someone who has the same situation - w2 and 1099 income, lost the 1099 income. They didn't understand how to fill out the application and didn't enter their 1099 job AT ALL. That means they submitted a claim with just a w2 job that they are still working at, and the claim still was approved. I think if there is any w2 wages in the system the computer automatically approves the claim. They aren't all looked at by live agents..

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1577 on: June 05, 2020, 02:07:54 PM »
For some reason, the LRRC is convinced that the appeal will work in these cases.
I know someone who has the same situation - w2 and 1099 income, lost the 1099 income. They didn't understand how to fill out the application and didn't enter their 1099 job AT ALL. That means they submitted a claim with just a w2 job that they are still working at, and the claim still was approved. I think if there is any w2 wages in the system the computer automatically approves the claim. They aren't all looked at by live agents..

Correct- their problem will arise when their boss rejects the UI claim.
It's the same issue- doesn't really matter if arises at application or somewhere down the line...

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1578 on: June 05, 2020, 02:09:03 PM »
How do you know if you were approved based on W-2?

1) Benefit Determination Letter states the wages they used to approve your claim
2) W2 boss receives a letter from the DOL giving him the ability to deny the claim- he only gets it if the claim is based on the wages he paid/is paying.

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Re: Unemployment Help
« Reply #1579 on: June 05, 2020, 03:20:52 PM »
Correct- their problem will arise when their boss rejects the UI claim.
It's the same issue- doesn't really matter if arises at application or somewhere down the line...
Besides for the fact that you won't receive money when you report your weekly income as full, or close to that, as the WBR will be based off the W2 income alone. This would especially apply where an employer cut someone's hours, so they can't deny the claim, but with the remaining income (and some 1099) they are above the threshold to receive any weekly benefits.
Did you have any experience with people who had W2 income that would have approved them alone, and still got approved for W2 and 1099 together (or even 1099 alone, which can often be more then the W2)?