The agency said it paid out $2.2 million in extended benefits for the week ending July 11. However, it did not immediately report how many workers obtained the extended benefits.

The high unemployment rate prompted by the coronavirus pandemic made New Jersey announced earlier this month the extension of unemployment benefits.

Regular unemployment benefits cover 26 weeks of payments. But the federal government extended the benefits by another 13 weeks for a total of 39 weeks of payments.

In addition, the extra 20 weeks of payments bring the total to 59 weeks of benefits for eligible unemployed workers.

You can read: New Jersey extends unemployment benefits by 20 weeks

“Double-digit unemployment amid COVID-19 has triggered 20 weeks of extended benefits. The state is permitted by federal law to offer to those who have exhausted all other state and federal unemployment aid without returning to work permanently,” the Labor Department said.

The agency said, workers do not need to contact an agent or reapply for benefits. They will be automatically enrolled into extended benefits as their federal extension ends.

Gig workers and the self-employed are not eligible for the full 20 weeks, but instead will receive a seven-week extension.

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