How Do I Meet New Jersey Unemployment Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for unemployment benefits, you must meet the following initial New Jersey unemployment requirements:
How much money you earned in your base period.
Your base period is defined as the first four quarters out of the past five quarters before you file your initial New Jersey unemployment weekly claim. Your maximum benefit amount depends on how much money you earned in your base period. The maximum New Jersey unemployment amount in 2020 is $713. In your base period, you must have 20 weeks where you earned gross wages totaling at least $10,000. A base week is defined as one where you earned at least $200.
| If your claim begins between these dates: | Your base period will be: |
|---|---|
If you dont qualify for benefits using your base period wages, you may be able to qualify using an alternate base period. New Jersey has two possible alternate base periods. The first includes wages earned in the four most recently completed quarters before you file your claim. The second alternate base period is the three most recently completed quarters between the date you filed your claim and the weeks in the filing quarter up to the date you filed your claim.
The reason for your unemployment.
If you became unemployed through no fault of your own, you may qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. This means you did not lose your job due to misconduct, you quit or you were fired for cause.
To remain eligible after you file your initial claim, you must meet the following requirements:
New Jersey Unemployment Updates And Latest News Missing Pandemic Payments And Retroactive Claim Processing Delays Continue
The NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development via the Division of Unemployment Insurance manages the states unemployment insurance program. New Jerseys unemployment remains higher than the United States as a whole, which is reflective of how hard the state has been hit by the pandemic compared to other parts of the nation.
See further details below on the pandemic enhanced benefits currently available including dealing with eligibility issues, various payment delays and changing certification requirements. And per the NJ DOL website, they are aware of the ongoing issues people are experiencing when filing claims and receiving payments on a timely manner. Keep reading for more information.
Covered in this Article:
Timeline Of Unemployment Insurance Program In New Jersey
The following timeline features selected key events in the history of New Jerseyâs unemployment insurance program. The timeline is not a comprehensive history of the state unemployment insurance program.
- 1938: As of May 1, 1938, New Jerseyâs unemployment insurance program offered a maximum weekly benefit amount of $15 for up to 16 weeks.
- 1985: As of January 1, 1985, New Jerseyâs unemployment insurance program offered a maximum WBA of $203 for up to 26 weeks.
- 2021: A March 2021 report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that the trust funds in 40 states and territories, including New Jersey, had dropped below the recommended minimum solvency standard as of January 1, 2021.
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Division Of Unemployment Insurance
“My benefits are ending. Are other resources available?”
See links to assistance with food, housing, child care, health, and more.
“Why canât I claim my remaining UI balance?”
For PUA/PEUC recipients, the balance represents the maximum that was available for weeks of unemployment before 9/4/21.
“How do you verify my identity?”
To reduce the risk of fraud, many unemployment claimants must verify their identity using the security vendor ID.me.
“How can I reset my PIN or password?”
We can help if you’re having trouble with your online account password and/or PIN to certify for weekly benefits.
Federal benefits created during the benefit expired September 4, 2021.
You will still be able to receive benefits for eligible weeks prior to September 4, 2021.
“What does it mean if my claim is pending, or not payable at this time?”
Many claimants see these messages and aren’t sure what, if anything, they need to do about them.
“How do I complete an application?”
Get step-by-step instructions for our application process and find out what happens after you file.
“I want to certify for and claim benefits.”
You must confirm each week that you are still eligible for benefits in order to get paid.
“I need to update my information.”
You can change your address, phone number, and other information from the online dashboard.
You can have your benefits deposited directly to your bank account, or loaded onto a prepaid debit card.
Retrieve Username And Password
The email address you used to submit your claim serves as your username. Use the Forgot Password? link if youve forgotten your password. choice on the login page.
See more :
You will get instructions on how to reset your password through email at the address you provide when creating an account.
Remember that you must respond to your security questions precisely as you did when you entered them during account creation. You must thus utilize precise spelling, dashes, and spaces.
Send a note new online form if that doesnt work or if you cant remember your security question answers. Select Trouble Creating an Account to submit a request to have your password reset after filling out the first page of the form and clicking Next.
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When And How Will I Get My New Jersey Unemployment Compensation
You can receive unemployment insurance benefits either by debit card or by direct deposit. When you file your initial claim you will be asked to decide which method you prefer. If you do not specify, you will get your benefits by a debit card issued to you by Bank of America.
If you want direct deposit, which places money directly into your savings or checking account, you will need to provide banking information when you file your claim.
If you choose the prepaid debit card form, your benefits will be made available in your account within two business days after you claim your benefits.
How To Certify For Benefits Online
Your claim is dated the Sunday of the week in which you filed your initial claim. The first time you claim benefits will be on a Wednesday, 17 days after your date of claim. To receive your unemployment insurance benefits, you must certify for benefits each week which you wish to receive benefits. You can only certify for benefits after the week has passed. Unemployment Insurance weeks begin on a Sunday and end at midnight on Saturday.
You will certify for benefits according to the most recent schedule, based on the last four digits of your Social Security Number .
If there is a problem with your claim that must be resolved before benefits can be paid, or if you have been denied benefits and are appealing the determination, you must still certify for and claim your benefits. You will receive “credit” for the weeks which you have claimed. If it is determined that you are eligible or if you win your appeal, you will be paid these benefits at a later date. If you have not claimed benefits and you win your appeal, you will not be paid for these weeks.
Read our steps for certifying online, and guidelines for certification questions below.
Step 1: Check the latest schedule.
See when your Social Security Number is scheduled to certify for benefits for the current week.
When it is your time to certify, log in to our online application and answer the questions provided.
Step 2: Start the certification.
to access our online benefits certification system.
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File New Jersey Unemployment Claim
My benefits are ending. Are other resources available?
See links to assistance with food, housing, child care, health, and more.
Why canât I claim my remaining UI balance?
For PUA/PEUC recipients, the balance represents the maximum that was available for weeks of unemployment before 9/4/21.
How do you verify my identity?
To reduce the risk of fraud, many unemployment claimants must verify their identity using the security vendor ID.me.
How can I reset my PIN or password?
We can help if youre having trouble with your online account password and/or PIN to certify for weekly benefits.
Federal benefits created during the benefit expired September 4, 2021.
You will still be able to receive benefits for eligible weeks prior to September 4, 2021.
What does it mean if my claim is pending, or not payable at this time?
Many claimants see these messages and arent sure what, if anything, they need to do about them.
How do I complete an application?
Get step-by-step instructions for our application process and find out what happens after you file.
I want to certify for and claim benefits.
You must confirm each week that you are still eligible for benefits in order to get paid.
I need to update my information.
You can change your address, phone number, and other information from the online dashboard.
You can have your benefits deposited directly to your bank account, or loaded onto a prepaid debit card.
Who Is Eligible For Benefits
Important update: Federal extended unemployment benefits expired September 4, 2021. Learn more here.
When you first apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits, we look at a few different factors to see if you qualify.
We need to know why youre out of work, and whether your recent earnings meet the minimum required by law.
After you first qualify for benefits, you will need to meet some additional requirements in order to keep receiving them.
Some workers, like school employees and business owners, have their own unique qualifications. If you are self-employed and do not pay for Unemployment Insurance through your paycheck, you may not be eligible for benefits.
Read out FAQs on who is eligible for benefits here.
Why are you unemployed?
Did you earn enough during your base year period of employment?
To receive benefits, you have to meet a minimum earnings requirement during your base period. The base period is the timeframe used to determine if you qualify for UI benefits and to calculate your benefit amount. The regular base year period consists of the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file an initial claim.Your regular base year period consists of 52 weeks and is determined by the date you apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits, as outlined in the chart below:
| If your claim is dated in: | Your claim is based on employment from: |
Are you a teacher or other school employee?
Are you a corporate officer or business owner?
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The Move Could Affect More Than 250000 Non
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz– February 8, 2022 11:57 am
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo
The state Labor Department will no longer attempt to recover some overpaid unemployment payments after the federal government updated its guidance on pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
The change could affect more than 250,000 New Jerseyans who received extra unemployment benefits through no fault of their own, Labor spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi said. The department is working through the details and will soon notify eligible claimants of the next steps, Delli-Santi said.
Unemployment skyrocketed during the first weeks of the pandemic, leaving the Labor Department flooded with hundreds of thousands of claims as businesses suddenly shuttered. Congress expanded unemployment benefits for workers who arent typically eligible, like gig workers and freelancers, but those guidelines changed dozens of times as new laws were passed.
About 130,000 residents have received letters from the state asking them to repay unemployment benefits paid in error, with the state blaming the strict federal guidelines. People who owe the Labor Department money typically cant receive more benefits until their claim is resolved.
Now, under the new guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor, there are five categories claimants must qualify for to see their overpayments waived, all related to pandemic benefits, like Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation .
How To Change Payment Method
If you decide that youd prefer to have your benefits delivered via direct deposit, you may log into your account and change your payment method within your dashboard. Please note that this type of change is processed only once each week, so the change may not take effect until the Tuesday after you initiate the change through your account.
When you submit your application, its important to apply for every state program that might prove helpful for example, New Jersey disability benefits, state unemployment benefits, workers compensation, or Temporary Disability Insurance.
Its important to note that in addition to weekly unemployment compensation, New Jersey offers health insurance subsidies for unemployed New Jersey residents as long as you dont have other options for affordable health coverage through a former employer, a spouses employer, New Jersey Medicaid or federal Medicare.
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How Do I File For Unemployment Benefits In New Jersey
To file a claim for unemployment benefits in New Jersey, the easiest way to do so online. However, people who have military, federal or out-of-state wages, and those employees who earned wages while working for a maritime employer, will need to file by calling a Reemployment Call Center as follows:
- North New Jersey : 201-601-4100
- Out-of-State Claims: 1-888-795-6672
If you are filing a New Jersey unemployment claim and do not have access to a computer, you can go to one of the states One-Stop Career Centers to use a computer.
Before you file an initial claim, youll need to gather the following pieces of information:
- Social Security number
- Alien registration number of you are not a U.S. citizen
- DD Form214 if you were are active military duty within the past two years
- Wage information, including W2 forms and paystubs from the past 18 months
- A New Jersey drivers license number or a similar photo identification card
- Banking information is you want to receive your benefits by direct deposit
- Your previous employers information, including the date you last worked for them for all employers within the past 18 months
- The reason you left your previous employer
When you file an initial claim, you will be asked to create a Personal Identification Number . You will use this PIN to certify for your benefits and to access your account, so it is important that you write it down and do not share it with anyone.
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What Happens If I Voluntarily Leave My Job
If you voluntarily quit your job without âgood cause connected with the work,â or if you voluntarily retire, you may be disqualified for benefits. âGood cause connected with the work,â means that your reason for leaving was not only a good reason but was also directly related to the job.
For example, a person quits work to move to another state because his or her spouse got a new job. While this is a good personal reason to quit, the reason for quitting is not connected with the work and the person would be disqualified.
To remove a disqualification for voluntary leaving, you must return to work for at least 4 weeks, earn at least 6 times your weekly benefit rate, and then become unemployed through no fault of your own.
If you quit your job, or if you voluntarily retire, you will be scheduled for a claims examiner interview. The examiner will determine if you are entitled to benefits.
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How To Apply For New Jersey Weekly Unemployment Benefits
Before you begin, you will want to prepare the data to be entered on the states electronic application. Applicants will be asked for information on any wages earned and hours worked during the week or weeks for which they are claiming, first time claimants may have to certify more than one week.
You will also want to check the eligibility questionsbeforehand to be prepared to follow the prompts more easily. You can print this page or have it open in a separate tab when filing out your claim. Always answer the questions accurately to avoid delays in receiving you benefits.
Also you will have to check for when you can certify according to your Social Security Number . Sunday through Thursday claimants are given a scheduled time window in the morning and another the evening when they can apply for their UI. The schedule can change on a regular basis so be sure to check but Fridays and Saturdays are open to all SSNs.
How Can I Appeal A Denial Of My Claim
If you are denied benefits, you have the right to appeal the decision.
When you file an initial claim, you will receive a written decision by mail. If you are denied benefits or disagree with the determination, you must appeal in writing either by writing a letter or by using the states online form. You must appeal within 10 calendar days of the date of the determination. The appeal period will be extended only if you can show good cause for the delay.
If you file an appeal, you will get a notice with the details of when your hearing will take place in front of an Appeal Tribunal. Most are done by phone. After the hearing, the Appeal Tribunal will issue a written decision. If it rules in your favor, your benefits will begin to be processed within 7 days.
If the Appeal Tribunal rules against you, you can appeal to the Board of Review within 20 days of the mailing date of the Appeal Tribunals decision. Board of Review appeal instructions will be included in this mailing.
If you are turned down by the Board of Review, you can appeal that decision to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.
You can get more information about the appeals process here.
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