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Latest News For You | For Agency Professionals
Living Through A Layoff
Other resources to explore when you are seeking employment
- Rapid Reemployment Initiative connects displaced employees to employers who are currently hiring. This initiative is the result of a unique alliance between state, national and non-profit workforce agencies. The virtual labor exchange provides key information and a digital forum bringing together job seekers, employers seeking to hire, downsizing employers and workforce development professionals. Learn more here.
- Job Fairs are designed to help employers find qualified employees. They also offer job seekers with an easy way to make contact with companies that are currently hiring. To find information about current Job Fairs being held throughout the state visit this site.
- Monster.com is coordinating career fairs throughout the country. Their Keep America Working Tour will be in and out of New Jersey several times during the year. To learn more about these events, including tour dates, resume and pitching tips for career fairs, participating employers and more, click here.
- Career Web Sites Many Web sites offer both job postings and employment tips. You can often post an electronic form of your resume on these sites and respond online to current employment opportunities. Among the most popular are:
- Corporate Sites Research the companies within commuting distance to your home and visit their Web sites. Most will have a portion of their site dedicated to current employment opportunities and you should be able to submit your application online.
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Labor Organizations Sites that are devoted to subjects that relate to workers like the AFL-CIO have a wide assortment of helpful tips and many associated resources. Learn more.>>
- Networking Opportunities Reach out to former colleagues and others you know who are currently working or may have vital connections with others in the workforce. Make sure they know about your skills and your eagerness to work. If you have a resume, don’t be shy - pass it along to them and encourage them to provide it to employers who are looking to hire.
Health Insurance
If you had health insurance while you were working, maintaining that coverage after you have lost your job is often possible through a program known as COBRA (The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). COBRA generally requires that group health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year offer employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage (called continuation coverage) in certain instances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end.
COBRA outlines how employees and family members may elect continuation coverage. It also requires employers and plans to provide notice. Qualified individuals must elect to receive this coverage within 60 days of receiving the notice and may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost to the plan.
This plan is tied to your previous employer’s health insurance plan. If your previous employer no longer provides health insurance to current workers, you will not be eligible for COBRA benefits.
Stimulus Plan Makes COBRA and Similar Health Plans More Affordable - December 2009 Amendment Extends Benefits!
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), was amended on December 19, 2009 and now provides COBRA benefits for up to 15 months after employment has been involuntarily terminated. The termination period was also extended in this amendment and now must occur during the period that began September 1, 2008 and ends on February 28, 2010. Eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums and the remaining 65 percent is reimbursed to the coverage provider through a tax credit. Learn more.
New Jersey employees who worked for employers that are not subject to COBRA because the employer employs fewer than 20 employees are benefitted by this legislation as well. New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 17B:27A-27) provides for continuation that is comparable to COBRA and thus the ARRA applies to employees of New Jersey small employers too. Learn more.
Unemployment Benefits Appeal Rights
Every determination that affects your eligibility for unemployment benefits will be given to you in writing. If you disagree, you have the right to file an appeal. Your appeal rights are printed on each determination you receive.
A determination becomes final unless a written appeal is filed within seven calendar days after delivery or within ten calendar days after the mailing of the determination. An appeal period can be extended if good cause for late filing is shown. Good cause exists in situations where it can be shown that the delay was due to circumstances beyond your control that could not have been reasonably foreseen or prevented.
To file an appeal, you must mail or fax your appeal to:
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Appeal Tribunal
PO Box 907
Trenton, NJ 08625-0907
FAX No.: (609) 292-2438
Your appeal letter must include your name, Social Security Number, and address. In addition, give your reasons for disagreeing with the determination and, if you file late, the reason for the delay.
Need Help – Dial 2-1-1
You are encouraged to dial “2-1-1” 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need help in understanding and finding available assistance services. Language translation and TTY services are offered to any caller. You can also search the database of services in your local community or Chat Live with an experienced community resource specialist. 2-1-1 will help identify with you the best local resources to fit your individual needs during times of financial distress or for life’s everyday situations.
If you know of additional resources that would be appropriate to include, please let us know by contacting us via e-mail at info@nj211.org .
Research Sources Include:
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/findjob/findjobindex.html
The Layoff Survival Kit by John Rossheim
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html
Page last modified on 2.5.10
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- AFTER YOU FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT |
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