Unemployment

In our previous illustration we previously discussed the re-employment process to obtain approval for General Emergency Assistance. The 28 day program is designed to help you find employment. You are required to attend an orientation at New Jersey’s One Stop Career placement center for the initial interview process. During the interview process, a case worker will explain the program and approval requirements.

During the conclusion of the interview you will be given a form that you must complete weekly, itemizing your employment searches. The re-employment process is designed to help you re-enter into the workforce, but it also teaches responsibility an accountability.

Unemployment

In our previous illustration we discussed the re-employment process in the State of New Jersey and the requirements needed to obtain approval for General Emergency Assistance (New Jersey Work First).

Once you have submitted an application for General Emergency Assistance, you must complete a 28 day program in order to qualify for additional cash assistance for non food products. This program is created to help you find employment. There are a minimum of five appointments, and  attendance is mandatory.

Unemployment

In our previous illustration we discussed the re-employment process in the State of New Jersey. It is important to evaluate one’s long term goals while seeking employment, and or furthering one’s education.

1. Identify one’s long term goals.

2. Contact one’s Health and Human Services center for state specific guidelines.

3. Meet with an individual case worker to schedule an appointment for General Emergency Assistance (New Jersey Work First).

4. Schedule an interview with New Jersey’s One Stop Career placement center.

5. Once an interview has been scheduled, visit one’s New Jersey One Stop Career placement center to create one’s resume and obtain your username and password to access On Ramp New Jersey jobs, which will provide access for the Jobs 4 New Jersey database.

6. Once one has met with a representative one will receive an interview for the re-employment process. One must complete a 28 day program for re-employment prior to receiving disbursement for General Emergency Assistance (New Jersey Work First).

Unemployment

In our previous illustration we discussed assistance programs in the State of New Jersey. Re-employment can be a stressful time; rebuilding one’s resume, attending work force development meetings and preparing for interviews are all actions that are required in order to rebuild one’s life after loss of employment.

The state of New Jersey, offers an assistance program, General Emergency Assistance (Work First New Jersey), which provide assistance for emergency food, shelter, rental assistance and cash assistance.

The cash assistance benefit for the State of New Jersey is  $145.00 per month. For individuals seeking employment, this subsidy can provide cash assistance to help one with non food items, in addition to the New Jersey Electronic Benefit Transfer program.

While $145.00 is not a large amount, this can help provide one with a few basic essentials while seeking employment.

Unemployment

In our previous illustration we discussed additional assistance programs in the State of New Jersey. While assistance is helpful, it is important to remember that your ability to succeed is not solely based upon the help of others. You have the ability to overcome any obstacle through faith in God.

We will provide strategies to help one seek employment and or further one’s education.

Unemployment

The unemployment rate and the loss of employment increase daily throughout the United States.

It is important to remember not everyone has the ability to follow these budgetary practices however, the important thing to remember is there isn’t any situation that you may experience that you cannot overcome through faith in God.

Unemployment Resources for the State of New Jersey:

1.  Welfare Services
2.  Medicaid
3.  Temporary General Assistance
4.  New Jersey Work First
5.  Housing Assistance
6.  New Jersey Helps
7.  Homeless Prevention
8.  Burlington County Shelter and Emergency Housing
9.  Homeless Prevention Contact
10. Social Services for Homeless

Unemployment

Additional Resources

PSEG Payment Assistance Programs:

• LIHEAP –See income guidelines.
• NJ Universal Service Fund –See income guidelines.
• TRUE (Temporary Relief for Utility Expenses) –See income guidelines.
• PAGE (Payment Assistance Gas and Electric) –See income guidelines.
• NJ Shares –See income guidelines.

Unemployment

Unemployment

 

Sample Illustration: Based upon the maximum unemployment weekly benefit rate in the State of New Jersey $624.00. We will use a biweekly figure of $1248.00. While these figures are modest due to expenses needed to maintain a household, I have used these categories as a guide.

Biweekly Rate: $1248.00 (I will split rental and car payments in this sample illustration because the monies are a little lower than our previous illustration.

Pay Yourself First: 10% -$124.80

 

Budget:
Tithes/Donations: 10% $124.80

Mortgage/Rent: $499.20 (Split your payment into two payments). Two bi-weekly payments will make up your rental and or mortgage payment per month while you seek fulltime and or part time employment. In circumstances where rental and mortgage payments exceed the amount used in this illustration, one can still apply for General Assistance. –See state specific guidelines.

Insurance: $94.09

Utilities: $110.00/$55.00 (contacting your electrical company for payment plan options are also another resource). If you are unable to establish a payment arrangement you can also split this category in two separate payments based upon your bi-weekly pay period.

Cell Phone: $60.00 (It is important to keep this figure modest and to contact your wireless provider to modify your plan to a basic plan while on unemployment).

Groceries : $70.00 (If one needs help in this area one can apply for General Assistance as noted in the previous post).

Car Payment: $150.00/ (Split your payment into two payments).- Two bi-weekly payments will make up your car payment).

Gasoline: $ 50.00

Healthcare: (Medicaid can also help with this category).- See specific state guidelines.
Savings: $20.11

Debt: (It is important to contact your creditors to advise you are experiencing a temporary financial hardship and provide a written statement to your creditors in order to establish a payment arrangement). It is important to communicate with your creditors to maintain your relationship while protecting your credit.

Although we do not have as many resources available for savings, we still have $124.80 remaining that we have paid ourselves from this pay period.

If there are additional debts and or child care expenses one can budget those categories in your next pay period along with the remaining monies needed for rental and car payments.