Amount And Duration Of Unemployment Benefits In New Jersey
If you are eligible to receive unemployment, your weekly benefit rate will be 60% of your average weekly earnings during the base period, up to a maximum of $713. This number is then multiplied by the number of weeks that you worked during the base period, up to a maximum of 26 weeks. For example, someone with a weekly benefit rate of $300 who worked for 26 weeks will be entitled to a total of $7,800 .
How Long Does It Take To Get Unemployment In New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development determines your unemployment benefit rate based on:
For example, if your average weekly wage is $1,000 during your base period, you would be eligible to receive $600 per week . If you are eligible for a maximum of 26 weeks, then the total amount you could receive in your benefit year would be $13,200 .
If you are not eligible for the maximum amount of $713, then you could qualify for dependency benefits as well.
The state provides an online calculator so you can get an estimate of what your benefits could be.
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Are You Out Of Work Through No Fault Of Your Own
You must be out of work through no fault of your own to qualify for unemployment benefits.
Collecting Unemployment After a Layoff
If you were laid off, lost your job in a reduction-in-force , or got “downsized” for economic reasons, you will meet this requirement.
Collecting Unemployment After Being Fired
If you were fired because you lacked the skills to perform the job or simply weren’t a good fit, you won’t necessarily be barred from receiving benefits. However, if your actions rise to the level of “misconduct,” you will not be eligible for unemployment. New Jersey law distinguishes among three different types of misconduct:
- Simple misconduct: when an employee’s actions go against the employer’s best interests, such as being insubordinate or being absent or late without a prior written warning.
- Severe misconduct: when an employee engages in more serious offenses, such as showing up to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol, stealing or destroying company property, or being absent or late after a written warning.
- Gross misconduct: when an employee’s actions qualify as criminal acts under New Jersey law.
For simple misconduct, an individual is barred from receiving unemployment for seven weeks from the date of termination. For severe and gross misconduct, individuals are disqualified from receiving benefits until they establish employment with another employer for a certain period of time and meet additional earnings requirements.
How Can I Apply
New Jersey accepts unemployment applications online, over the phone or in person. If youre planning to call, reemployment call centers are available between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays, excluding holidays.
Youll need to prepare the following information before you start the application process.
- Social Security number or Alien Registration number if youre not a U.S. citizen
- Pension or 401 information if youre receiving payments from those accounts
- Amount and duration of any separation pay you may be receiving from your employer
- The date you expect to be recalled to your job, if youre expected to return
- Union hiring hall information, including local number and address, if you get work through a union
- Military Form DD-214 if you were in the military in the last 18 months
- Form SF-8 or SF-50 if you were a federal employee
Youll also need to provide the complete name and address of each employer youve worked for in the last 18 months, along with your
- Employers telephone number
- Beginning and ending dates of employment
- Reason for separation
Youll need to create an online account to apply through the agencys website. And even if you apply over the phone or in person, setting up an online account can make it easier to recertify every week that youre still eligible for benefits. That process includes confirming that youre actively looking for a new job and able to accept an offer of employment when you receive it.
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Respond To Questionnaires From The State Agency
Also, if there are questions about your eligibility for unemployment benefits, youll receive a fact-finding questionnaire from your states unemployment agency.
They will request additional information from you.
You must respond to this questionnaire by the deadline specified.
Failure to respond may result in disqualification from receiving benefits.
Respond to requests for information about your unemployment claim
How Do I Apply For Unemployment Benefits
You can apply for unemployment benefits online — just create an account on the NJ Department of Labor’s website.
Due to a high volume of claims right now, there’s a specific daily schedule you’ll need to follow to file for benefits. If the last four digits of your Social Security number are between:
- 0000 and 2500, file between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
- 2501 and 5000, file between 10 a.m. and noon
- 5001 and 7500, file between noon and 2 p.m.
- 7501 and 9999, file between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
You can file between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. if you miss your initial window.
You’ll also need to provide information that includes:
- Your Social Security number or Alien Registration Number if you’re not a U.S. citizen
- Details of your work history over the past 18 months — employer name, address, and last day of employment
- Your severance package details, if you’re getting severance pay
- Military Form DD-214
- Form SF-8 or SF-50
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Types Of Disability Policies
There are two types of disability policies.
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Short-term policies may pay for up to two years. Most last for a few months to a year.
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Long-term policies may pay benefits for a few years or until the disability ends.
Employers who offer coverage may provide short-term coverage, long-term coverage, or both.
If you plan to buy your own policy, shop around and ask:
-
How is disability defined?
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How long do benefits last?
-
How much money will the policy pay?
Claim Denials Or Discrepancies
If your claim is denied, you can always appeal the decision by filing with the Appeal Tribunal. This group assesses all unemployment appeals to ensure that a person’s claim was denied for a just reason.
If it is found that the denial was wrong, benefits can be restored. However, the appeal is based on potential filing mistakes or misconduct by the employer. Denials cannot be overturned based on willful misconduct by the filing employee, such as misreported wages or other types of fraud.
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Learn The Unemployment Eligibility Rules Benefit Amounts And More For New Jersey
By Sachi Barreiro, Attorney
In New Jerseyas in every other stateemployees who are temporarily out of work through no fault of their own may qualify for unemployment benefits. The eligibility rules, prior earnings requirements, benefit amounts, and other details vary from state to state. Here are the basic rules for collecting unemployment compensation in New Jersey.
Learn How To Apply For Unemployment In New Jersey
Find New Jersey Unemployment Application Information
The New Jersey unemployment registration process begins when a petitioner completes an unemployment EDD application. In regards to where to sign up for unemployment benefits, petitioners have the option of applying either online or over the phone. After the petitioner decides where to apply for unemployment, he or she must gather the information needed, and register. If granted benefits, the claimant must file for an unemployment claim each week that benefits are needed.
Regarding how to apply for unemployment benefits in NJ, the sections below will explain:
Find New Jersey Unemployment Resources
How to Apply
Find Out How to Appeal Denied Benefits
What is wrongful termination?
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How To File A New Jersey Unemployment Appeal
If you feel like you need to file an unemployment appeal, you can do so by:
1. Go to the New Jersey unemployment website and click on Appeal. 2. Contact your unemployment counselor. 3. File a claim directly with the New Jersey Board of Labor. 4. Contact a labor attorney.
What are some reason that you might need to file an unemployment appeal?
1. You feel like you did not receive the full amount of your unemployment benefits. 2. You feel like you were treated unfairly or discriminated against. 3. You feel like you were denied for unemployment benefits inappropriately. 4. You feel like your employer is trying to block you from receiving unemployment benefits when you are legitimately entitled and eligible to receive them. 5. You think that your unemployment benefits ran out too soon. 6. You believe that your unemployment application was incorrectly or unfairly judged or handled.
The staff of the New Jersey unemployment offices are very diligent and professional counselors who genuinely want to help you, but sometimes mistakes are made. If you feel like something has gone wrong during your unemployment case that has affected the benefits that you receive, you can file a New Jersey unemployment appeal in order to have your case reviewed. Do this as soon as possible. Do not let too much time pass, or it may be too late.
Still Have Questions?
How To Claim Weekly Benefits
Visit your New Jersey unemployment insurance account to claim your benefits online. Click “CLAIM BENEFITS” button if you have already filed a claim and only wish to certify for weekly benefits. The application for claiming weekly benefits is available seven days a week, Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Unemployment insurance benefits are paid sooner if you claim your benefits on Sunday.
If this is your first time claiming benefits, you will enter your Social Security Number and you will then be prompted to create a four-digit Personal Identification Number . Be sure to create a PIN you will remember because you will need this PIN when you claim your weekly benefits in the future.If you cannot claim your benefits online, you may claim them by telephone. Please be advised that a call waiting signal could interfere with your call and provide incorrect data to our computer system. Therefore, you should turn off the call waiting feature before you phone to claim benefits. Also, using a cell phone is not recommended because interference or loss of signal may result in incorrect data being transmitted to our computer system.
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How Much Might I Get
Unemployment benefits in New Jersey are typically calculated at 60% of your average weekly wage during your base year, up to a maximum of $713 per week. The minimum weekly benefit amount you can receive ranges from $120 to $138, depending on the number of dependents listed in the application. Again, its possible these maximums can change during recessions or other difficult economic times.
You can use New Jerseys benefit calculator to estimate what your potential payment could be.
Am I Eligible To Claim
In order to claim UI in New Jersey, the NJ Department of Labor stipulates you must have:
- Worked only in New Jersey in the last 18 months, or
- Worked in New Jersey and any other state in the last 18 months, or
- Worked for the federal government and in New Jersey in the last 18 months, or
- Served in the military in the last 18 months and be physically present in New Jersey.
In addition to the above, you will need to have met minimum earnings requirements during your base period. If you claim during April, May or June 2020, your base period will be determined as January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. If you claim between July through September 2020, your base period will be determined as April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. If you claim between October 2020 through December 2020, your base period will be determined as July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.
If you have earned at least $200 per week for 20 or more weeks during your base period, or have earned a minimum of $10,00 in total during the same time, you will be eligible for UI providing your meet all other criteria. If your income isnt sufficient, the department will review your earnings over two alternate base periods. More details on how alternate base years are calculated can be found at the Departments website.
Under normal circumstances, you would also need to demonstrate you are:
- Out of work through no fault of your own
- Able to work
- Ready and willing to work
- Actively seeking employment
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File For Unemployment Benefits
Claims for New Jersey unemployment insurance may be filed online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.nj.gov/labor/ui, New Jerseys Department of Labor and Workforce Development website. It’s quick, easy and secure. If you are unable to apply online, you may file a claim or reopen an existing claim by calling a Reemployment Call Center. The Reemployment Call Centers are open 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
How To Reopen Unemployment Claims
You can receive unemployment benefits if you have lost your job through no fault of your own. However, it terminates the moment you secure a new job. But if your new unemployment does not last long, you can start receiving benefits again by simply reopening your claim. Wondering how to reopen unemployment claims? This article will break it down for you!
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Start Receiving Your Benefit Payments
If you are approved for unemployment benefits, you will receive your benefit payment according to the payment preference that you selected upon applying for benefits.
Depending on your state, your payment options will include all or two of the following:
- Paper Check
- Unemployment Debit Card
If you select Direct Deposit, you will need the following information:
- Your Bank Routing Number , and
- Bank Account Number .
However, if you do not make a selection for a payment method, you are likely to receive your benefits on an unemployment debit card.
You are allowed to switch payment methods later, once you start receiving benefits.
What Happens After I File An Initial Claim
After you file an initial unemployment claim you will be mailed a Form BC9 which explains how to certify for benefits as well as any appointments you need to attend. Appointments are mandatory and missing one could impact your ability to receive benefits.
Unemployment benefits are paid for a 7-day week that begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. Within 10 days of applying for benefits, you will receive a Notice to Claimant of Benefit Determination which details your work history, your base period, your wages during the base period and your weekly benefit amount and maximum benefit amount. If there are any errors with your New Jersey unemployment, contact the Reemployment Call Center immediately.
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How Unemployment Works In New Jersey
How Do I Apply/file
Unemployed New Jersey residents wondering, How can I sign up for unemployment? have two options. An online application for unemployment may be submitted through New Jerseys unemployment benefit portal. For applicants without reliable access to the internet, the unemployment EDD application can also be completed over the phone.
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How To Prepare For Applying For Unemployment Insurance In New Jersey
Determine the Base Periodfile for unemployment in NJ
If an individuals base period does not meet the criteria to file for an unemployment claim, an alternate base period may be used. An alternate base period may demonstrate the applicants job wages and hours during a period of time outside of the general base periods.
Unemployment registration in New Jersey includes two types of alternate base periods. Alternate Base Year #1 includes the 4 most recent calendar quarters in which the applicant worked, and alternate Base Year #2 is determined by the 3 most recently completed calendar quarters. Alternate Base Period #2 is less than the standard 52 weeks. Alternate base periods are not determined by the applicant.
Determine DependentsSchedule a Time Each Week to Certify for Benefits
