Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Community Resources

  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available in Eight New Jersey Counties

    The following press release was issued on November 1, 2012 by Governor Chris Christie’s office:

    Christie Administration Announces Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available in Eight New Jersey Counties Impacted by Storm

    Trenton, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that it approved Governor Chris Christie’s request for eight (8) New Jersey counties to qualify for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy.

    This special assistance program pertains to people in and around portions of New Jersey that were declared a federal disaster area, including Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties. Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available for persons, including self-employed individuals, who were living or working in the affected counties at the time of the disaster, and who are unemployed as a direct result of the damages caused by the storm.

    At this time, the assistance is available only in connection with those areas declared a federal a disaster area, including Atlantic, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties. Additional counties may be added to the disaster declaration following continued damage assessments by local officials, representatives of the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    If you are unemployed because of the disaster that began on Oct. 28, you should FIRST file for unemployment insurance benefits through the Internet by going to www.njuifile.net.

    The Internet processes claims faster. However, if needed, people may also file a claim by telephone by contacting the state Department of Labor’s Re-employment Call Centers at:

    North Jersey – (201) 601-4100
    Central Jersey – (732) 761-2020
    South Jersey – (856) 507-2340

    A 30-day deadline ending December 3, 2012 is in effect for filing claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy.

    For additional information regarding Disaster Unemployment Assistance or for FEMA services please call the FEMA emergency number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. Information is also available via the Internet at www.disasterassistance.gov and www.fema.gov.

    For information on all New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development programs and services visit http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/index.html and www.Jobs4Jersey.com.

  • Preparing And Recovering From Hurricane Sandy

    On Sunday, October 28 Governor Chris Christie held a press briefing and declared a state of emergency in the state of New Jersey. During the news conference he urged New Jersey residents to visit the website of the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership if in need of shelter.

    To prepare for Hurricane Sandy, as much as is possible, you may find the following websites to be helpful:

    Many of New Jersey’s 21 counties have emergency notification systems. Links to county government websites are available here.

    Be cautious. Be safe.

  • OnRamp – New Jersey Job Seekers Online Tool

    Note: OnRamp became inactive as of October, 2018. Job search tools for New Jersey job seekers are available at the state’s Career Services webpage.

    The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development has launched a job-search tool named OnRamp. It allows New Jersey job seekers to post a resume online, receive email alerts on job matches, all free of charge.

    When introduced last November Labor Commissioner Hal Wirths was quoted as saying, “This service is open to everyone. People don’t have to wait to receive a pink slip to use it. We believe this will further our efforts to link job-seekers to the employers that are searching the state for new talent.”

    OnRamp is considered an interactive tool as it allows employers to search resumes for prospective employees based on job skills not just job titles. It also allows consumers to have customized job profiles based on their job search strategies.

    The OnRamp website is located at http://www.jobs4jersey.com. An OnRamp overview and registration instructions are also available. Other job search services are available at the state’s network of One Stop Career Centers.

    The unemployment rate in New Jersey has risen for the last five months and stands at 9.9%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.