Thousands of unemployed New Jerseyans will not need to file paperwork with the state to qualify for additional jobless benefits.

President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday that extends unemployment benefits by up to 20 weeks for those in states — including New Jersey — where the jobless rate is 8.5 percent or above.

State labor officials say 65,000 eligible residents — who previously exhausted all available state and federally funded extended benefits or are ineligible for other programs — will have their new claims automatically filed so they can continue receiving unemployment benefits.

The state will notify eligible residents via mail this coming week.

The change comes as the national unemployment rate rose above 10-percent, which is higher than President Obama forecast the rate would be had the stimulus not been signed into law.

(Source: CBS2 HD)