In New Jersey, some good news for self-employed and independent contractors

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey officials say the first batch of self-employed workers and independent contractors in the state will be getting stimulus payments as early as next week. This comes a month after the stimulus bill was signed into law.

The first batch of self-employed and gig workers who have filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, will get instructions in their email or snail mail telling them how they can file their weekly claims and then get the funds as early as next week.

But the process will be slowly rolled out.

All payments will be retroactive to the day they stopped working, as well as the $600 weekly from the federal government, which may come in a lump sum.

Anyone who filed under PUA but have incomplete earnings records will get $230 a week, plus the $600.

New Jersey officials ask those who have filed for PUA not to call the hotline and to wait for the instructions in their email, as not everyone who has applied for the benefits online will get the money right away.

___

Do you have questions about unemployment or the economic stimulus package? Each day, KYW Newsradio's Kristen Johanson will answer them. Like us on Facebook and send a message; tweet at us at @KYWNewsradio; or email us a question.