Deviceajar's journey

I was laid off from my job in New Jersey on July 25 and collected unemployment benefits until December. It's been tough finding a job in my field due to the current market conditions. My unemployment claim is set to expire on June 27, 2026, and I'm trying to figure out if I can reapply for unemployment benefits after it expires. I worked at my previous employer for 8 years and met the income requirement of over $40k in the last 18 months. I'm also concerned about whether my contract work would count towards eligibility since I'm not sure if independent work is considered. I've tried reaching out to the unemployment office for clarification, but every time I call, the high volume of calls leads to them hanging up on me. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.