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.
File Your Unemployment Application And Initial Claim Process
Follow these steps to successfully file for unemployment online:
- Go to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website and click on “Unemployment Insurance.”
- Select the “Login” or the “Click Here to create account” option and enter the email address you wish to use for your account.
- After you enter your email address and click “SEND”, a link will be emailed to you to verify the account.
- Look for an email from Click on the link to complete the registration process. The link will expire after 60 minutes.
- After you have registered, you will be returned to the sign in page. Sign in with the email address and password you just created.
- From your dashboard, click on “File a New Claim OR Open an Existing Claim” and complete the claim filing process.
- Options to file for weekly benefits as well as other Claim Management options can also be found here.
Lawmakers Spar With Labor Commissioner Over Unemployment Problems
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz– March 11, 2022 7:05 am
New Jersey Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo testifying to a Senate committee on March 10, 2022.
State senators grilled Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo during a contentious three-hour hearing Thursday, criticizing him over the states handling of the unemployment crisis at the height of the pandemic and questioning him about why they still hear from residents who say they havent received benefits they should have received long ago.
Senators relayed heartbreaking stories of the constituents theyve helped over the last two years. One listed the number of days residents said theyve been waiting for benefits 174 days, 203 days, 286 days. Another relayed the story of a woman who has waited so long, she has been married and had her name changed since she applied.
And they all expressed frustration and disappointment to the commissioner over the lack of in-person unemployment services nearly two years after COVID-19 led to a surge in jobless claims and a raft of complaints about the difficulty getting state employees on the phone to help.
I have someone whos still waiting for an appeals process a year later. I dont understand why it has to take 365 days, said state Sen. Teresa Ruiz . My community wants to go somewhere and see someone. Theyve been shut out of the process for two years I am asking you to please step up your game.
Having two people at a site wont cut it, Ruiz said.
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Nj Labor Department Chief Again Criticized For Handling Of Unemployment Claims
By: Sophie Nieto-Munoz– May 5, 2022 6:59 am
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo told lawmakers other states have had the same problems with their unemployment systems as New Jersey.
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo took another beating from lawmakers during a budget hearing Wednesday, with legislators criticizing his department for taking so long to dole out jobless benefits during the pandemic.
Nearly every lawmaker on the Assembly Budget Committee shared a story of someone who has reached out to their office in need of help resolving an unemployment or disability claim. Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor-Marin , the committees chair, mentioned a constituent who is owed 36 weeks of unemployment benefits and has received a shutoff notice from PSE& G.
These are peoples livelihoods, said Pintor-Marin.
Asaro-Angelo, who appeared before the committee to answer questions about his departments budget request, defended the state workers who have processed nearly 2 million claims since April 2020 and explained to lawmakers why some people are still seeking help for their jobless claims more than two years after the pandemic led to massive job losses. The hearing lasted for three hours.
The commissioner discussed modernizations to the unemployment system applications were updated last week to be in plain language and apologized to the thousands of New Jerseyans who had to wait months to be paid.
by Sophie Nieto-Munoz, New Jersey MonitorMay 5, 2022
Supplemental Unemployment Insurance Benefits During The Coronavirus Pandemic
The CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan established the following supplemental unemployment insurance programs during the coronavirus pandemic:
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program aimed to provide qualifying unemployment insurance claimants with a supplemental $300-$600 per week in addition to their state unemployment insurance benefits. The program expired on September 6, 2021.
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation sought to provide 24 weeks of extended unemployment insurance benefits to recipients who have exhausted their standard benefits. The program expired on September 6, 2021.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
The federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program aimed to provide individuals who are out of work but ineligible for standard unemployment insurance benefits with $300-$600 in weekly compensation. Qualifying individuals included workers who are not eligible for standard benefits, such as independent contractors and self-employed workers, as well as individuals who have exhausted their standard benefits, extended benefits, or PEUC benefits. The program expired on September 6, 2021.
- Lost Wages Assistance
- Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation
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New Jersey Government Agencies
Please select a topic below to jump directly to the corresponding agency:
For more information about filing a discrimination or harassment claim in New Jersey, see our page on filing a discrimination complaint: New Jersey
Discrimination/Harassment – State Agency
New Jersey Division on Civil Rights
| 5 Executive Campus, Suite 107Cherry Hil, NJ 08002 |
Web Address:
Agency Description/Mission: The Division on Civil Rights is charged with enforcing the Law Against Discrimination within the State of New Jersey. Accordingly, the mission of the Division is the eradication of illegal discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, handicap, age, nationality, ancestry, marital status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, and sex, in areas such as employment, public accommodations, and housing. The Division serves as a fair and impartial forum for addressing claims that the LAD has been violated.
Discrimination/Harassment – Local Offices of Federal Agency
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Newark Area OfficeFax:973-645-4524TTY: 1-800-669-6820
Occupational Safety & Health Administration Avenel Area Office
Occupational Safety & Health Administration Hasbrouck Heights Area Office
Occupational Safety & Health Administration Marlton Area OfficeMarlton Executive Park, Building 2701 Route 73 South, Suite 120Marlton, NJ 08053
Wage and Hour/Labor Standards – State Agency
New Jersey Unemployment Tips
1 Q: Where do I apply for unemployment?A: In general, you should apply for unemployment in the same state in which you work. So even if you live in New York, if you work in New Jersey, you should apply in New Jersey.
To create an account to apply for unemployment online go to:
- North New Jersey Reemployment Call Center
- Central New Jersey Reemployment Call Center
- South New Jersey Reemployment Call Center
- Out-of-State Claims:
We want to know how many hotel and gaming workers who work in New Jersey are having trouble getting their unemployment benefits processed. We will attempt to use the information we are getting from you to communicate with the state so that they can continue to make improvements. Please come back and fill out this survey to let us know if you have any issues filing your unemployment claim: NJ Unemployment Link and Union Survey.
2 Q: Can I apply for unemployment if I have been temporarily laid-off?A: Yes, you can and it is crucial that you apply as soon as you are laid-off.If you apply before you are laid off , they will very likely reject your application and that will delay when you can start collecting your benefit.
3 Q: Am I eligible for unemployment in New Jersey?A: To be eligible, you must meet the following two requirements:
First, your employment must not have ended for cause . If you were laid off due to the impacts of the coronavirus, you meet this requirement.
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Inside The Nj Unemployment ‘satellite Office’
Before the pandemic, legislative offices typically assisted residents with claims by acting as a middleman. Staffers reached out to the Department of Labor to get a status update on a claim or to connect constituents with the proper division.
COVID changed that.
Legislators said their staffs were forced to conduct phone, virtual and even in-person meetings with constituents to walk them through the claim process because residents and legislative offices did not get responses from Labor Department employees.
Diana Rochford, a staffer for Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, said she has helped at least 1,000 people with unemployment issues, either by phone or in person at the Denville office.
“We used to be able to just email the department to help people, but now there is a new system,” she said. “We have to enter name, claim number, Social Security number and other things, including a description of the issues according to the claimant. Then the department will send a response at some point later on.”
Joseph Griesbach also went to Testas office with his unemployment issues because he said the Department of Labor wasnt answering calls or texts or emails or anything.
It was the worst time in my life trying to deal with unemployment during the pandemic, he said. There should have been in-person options somewhere.
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Njdol: Department Successfully Processes 533k Supplemental Unemployment Benefits
From the NJDOL:
Eligible Claimants to Receive First 2 Weeks of Payments up to $600 This Week
TRENTON The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced it had successfully processed more than a half-million supplemental unemployment payments, and eligible claimants would begin seeing two weeks worth of benefits $600 total in direct deposit accounts or on debit cards as soon as Tuesday, depending on their bank.
The weekly payments are available through a new COVID-19 stimulus package the Continued Assistance to Unemployed Workers Act of 2020, signed into law on Dec. 27 and are in addition to regular unemployment benefits. The supplemental payments are available automatically to anyone currently receiving unemployment in any amount through March 13. The first week of eligibility was the week ending Jan. 2.
Claimants are receiving payments for their first two weeks of eligibility, said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. These critical funds will continue to be available weekly without claimants having to take any action.
The Department successfully processed 533,000 payments over the weekend worth a total of $296 million, after hitting an unforeseen snag the prior week, delaying payment. The complication arose running the new Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program while simultaneously running the prior program, which had different payout amounts, but must be kept active under federal law.
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New Jersey Eligibility Requirements
Unemployment insurance recipients in New Jersey must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for benefits:
- Recipients must have lost employment through no fault of their own.
- Recipients must have earned sufficient wages during the base periodthe first 12 months of the 15 months prior to filing a claim. Recipients must have earned at least $220 per week during 20 or more weeks during the base period or at least $11,000 total during the base period.
- Recipients must be unemployed or partially employed and earning less than their weekly unemployment insurance benefits.
- Recipients must be able and available to work.
Appeals Process For Denied Claims
When you receive a claim denial, you need to file your appeal at the Appeals Tribunal or at an unemployment office near you. This appeal must be done 10 days from the date of the determination mailing or seven days after its delivery to your home.
All appeals must include your Social Security Number, the determination that is being appealed, and the grounds for the appeal.
Once your appeal has been received, a hearing will be set up. You will be informed by mail and you can decide to attend it in person at the indicated appeal office, or by telephone.
Telephone appeals are allowed in most cases, unless your intent is to delay the proceeding or inconvenience anyone else, if the party is more than 50 miles away, if your reason isn’t due to physical or medical reasons, or if you can’t give a good cause for its necessity.
Legal counsel is available at your expense, and all attorneys must complete a Board of Review Attorney’s Authorization form to get your fees approved. Free legal services are available in the community, but not provided by the court. Your appeal will be examined in-depth, with questions regarding your denial being asked to relevant parties.
A decision will be made by the Appeal Tribunal and mailed to you after the healing. An explanation will be given for the appeal. If your appeal was granted, you will receive any benefits you may have been denied, include past payments.
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Department Of Labor Ups Response Goal For Unemployment Claims Referred By Lawmakers
Delli Santi: There was never a limit set for legislative referrals
By Nikita Biryukov, March 23 20215:27 pm
This story was updated to include information about a Feb. 26 email exchange between Smiths staff and the front office at 10:42 p.m.
Rep. Chris Smith on Tuesday celebrated the removal of a limit on lawmaker unemployment referrals the Department of Labor and Workforce Development says never existed.
As a result of my letter to the Governor last week protesting a new policy to ration the number of cases to twelve per week that any congressional office can submit for resolution, weve now been assured that the New Jersey Department of Labor will accept all of our cases and attempt to do a better job, Smith said. Its a start, its a change. We hope to see real improvement.
Smith, in a March 10 letter first reported by Shlomo Schorr, lambasted a policy change he said would limit New Jerseys legislators and members of Congress to 25 unemployment claim referrals every two weeks, charging it would leave hundreds of his constituents in the lurch for months.
But the department says that limit wasnt a limit but the number of claims from each legislative office it sought to address in each two-week period.
It was our target to address, not a limit, nor a cap on submissions, she said.
Yes thats to the best of my understanding, they were told.
In any case, that number is up to 50 every two weeks.
The 50-claim goal isnt enough to satisfy Smith
A Pilot Project Underway In New Jersey And Arkansas Focusing On The Experience Of Claimants For Unemployment Insurance Is New Territory For The Department Of Labor The Agency Is Working With The United States Digital Service To Develop Pieces Of Tech For States To Use In Unemployment Claims
Efforts to develop modular technology for unemployment compensation systems are underway at the Department of Labor and the White House’s U.S. Digital Service.
The “claimant experience pilot” marks the Labor Department’s first foray into product development for unemployment insurance, a benefit delivered at the state level, said Michele Evermore, deputy director for policy in the agency’s Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization.
New Jersey and Arkansas are participating. The tech being developed is for login processes with integrated identity verification.
The timeline is flexible, officials say, but the goal is to launch a minimum viable product around the end of March. The technology could potentially be adopted by states as they modernize.
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“This is an entirely different approach to tech modernization than the Department of Labor has taken in the past,” said Evermore. “It is a seriously ambitious undertaking for us to work with U.S. Digital Services to begin to figure out how federal tools can integrate with vastly different state systems.”
Development, testing and research are underway, said Amy Paris, USDS product manager and digital service expert.
When a minimum viable product is finished, it’ll first be tested to see if the new mobile-first, user-centered portal works before scaling, said Evermore.
The Department of Labor is already working with ID.me, as are over 20 states.
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Unemployment Insurance In New Jersey
- See also: Unemployment insurance in the states
Unemployment insurance is a term that refers to a joint federal and state program that provides temporary monetary benefits to eligible laid-off workers who are actively seeking new employment. Qualifying individuals receive unemployment compensation as a percentage of their lost wages in the form of weekly cash benefits while they search for new employment.
The federal government oversees the general administration of state unemployment insurance programs. The states control the specific features of their unemployment insurance programs, such as eligibility requirements and length of benefits.
Although the word insurance is in the term, a few key differences distinguish unemployment insurance from private insurance plans such as home insurance, car insurance, or health insurance. In most states, employersrather than individuals themselvespay unemployment taxes that fund state unemployment insurance programs. When an individual loses their employment , state-administered unemployment insurance programs provide temporary monetary benefits to the former employee. Unemployment insurance compensation is not intended to replace lost wages it is designed to replace a portion of the individual’s lost wages with the goal of providing financial support as an individual searches for a new job.
This page provides information about the unemployment insurance program in New Jersey.
