Unemployment Is Now Easier To Get In NJ, Officials Say

NEW JERSEY - Garden State residents who faced hardship and delays in applying for unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer have to endure the same issues in the future, state and federal officials said Tuesday during an announcement of the overhaul of the system.

The launch of a new online Unemployment Insurance initial application was “completely remodeled” with the goal of improving user accessibility and is intended to “save applicants hours of time in filing their claims and receiving their benefits,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.

In fact, half of all applicants can complete the initial application in less than half an hour, officials said at a Tuesday news conference detailing the changes.

The new application system, which was fully phased in on April 11 and called an "an “agile, modular system" by State Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, was rolled out in increments over the past few months, officials said.

“This isn’t a one-and-done deal,” Asaro-Angelo noted. “We’re building a system that is able to make fixes and add features to adapt to claimant needs and policy changes, because modernization should never be over.”

The new system is available in English and Spanish and features revised questions, a new landing page relevant to a claimant’s current situation, maximized accessibility for assistive devices, the ability to save and finish later and 19 percent less questions to make finishing in one sitting more likely.

Officials said up to 50 percent of users use a mobile device to complete the application; over 70 percent of mobile users access the Spanish-language version.

“New Jersey has established itself not only as a staunch supporter of our workers, but also as a budding innovation hub,” Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement. “It is fitting that this endeavor utilized innovative and cutting-edge strategies to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of unemployment insurance benefits to claimants.

“Nothing should stand in the way of New Jersey residents accessing critical unemployment benefits to make difficult times more manageable,” Murphy added.

The U.S. Department of Labor selected New Jersey as one of two states to participate in a pilot program to modernize the federal unemployment insurance system with user interface and streamlined payment improvements. Tuesday’s announcement was the result of “years of rigorous review and extensive user testing at every stage.”

The Garden State also received part of a $1 billion allotment in American Rescue Plan funding to help states modernize their unemployment insurance program.

“For unemployment insurance systems throughout the country, the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented storm,” U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su said in a statement. “Thanks to strong and bold leadership, New Jersey is now building one of the most innovative and modern unemployment insurance systems in the country.”