Murphy Tests Negative for COVID-19, Says $300 Delayed Jobless Benefit to Hit Accounts in 2 Days

By Jim Pytell, Assistant Editor On Oct 22, 2020

Gov. Phil Murphy conducted his COVID-19 press briefing via Zoom today, as he continues his quarantine after being in contact on Saturday with Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Delamater, who learned he had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Murphy said that he and the first lady have tested negative after learning about the exposure yesterday.

“This is proof that no one is immune from this virus,” Murphy said, adding that the entire governor’s office is working remotely today.

Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) reported today that it has successfully processed $1.2 billion in FEMA payments, and that eligible claimants can expect to receive lump-sum payments over the next two business days, depending on their bank.

The FEMA Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) will pay supplemental benefits to most workers unemployed during the weeks ending Aug. 1 through Sept. 5 for a COVID-19 related reason. The benefit is $300 per week for up to six weeks, for a maximum payment of $1,800.

According to DOL, the processing of payments required the department to develop new programming that had not been tested previously, which led to a longer than anticipated wait for payments to go through.

Murphy noted DOL has distributed $16.7 billion in unemployment benefits during the pandemic, including $256 million just last week, with cumulative benefits to the average worker topping $12,000.

Pre-Registration for Phase III EDA Emergency Assistance Grants Open

Murphy also announced that pre-registration for Phase III of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant is now open. Businesses must register by 5 p.m. on Oct. 27. Applicants are accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.

More information can be found at cv.business.nj.gov

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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