New Jersey will not have to ask an estimated 250,000 workers to repay pandemic related unemployment benefits they received but were not eligible for, after the US Department of Labor updated guidance. The agency estimates the average amount overpaid in New Jersey was about $4,400.

The NJ Department of Labor urged for this waiver as long as overpayment was not fraudulent because federal rules about administering the programs changed mid-stream.  For example, at first self-employed workers could self-certify their earnings, but later documentation was required.