New Jerseys Unemployment Insurance Program
Both New Jersey and the federal government have roles in the states unemployment insurance program. New Jersey has its own program with rules about eligibility, the amount of compensation a worker can receive, the duration of the benefits and the application process. The program is supervised by the U.S. Department of Labor, which also helps New Jersey with the administrative costs involved with the program.
Labor Department Posts Guide To Help Unemployed Workers Claim Weekly Benefits
Labor Department Posts Guide to Help Unemployed Workers Claim Weekly Benefits
TRENTON The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has posted step-by-step instructions for the more than 550,000 workers who will go online to claim their weekly unemployment benefits starting Sunday.
The easy-to-follow guide can be accessed here.
Workers must certify their eligibility and availability for work each week in order to continue receiving benefits, in accordance with federal labor department rules, and the Labor Department strongly encourages them to do so online at myunemployment.nj.gov. Certifying in New Jersey means answering seven questions, and attesting to the truthfulness of the answers. Failure to answer all of the questions correctly results in a delay of benefits.
Applying for unemployment can be complicated, so this guide takes workers step-by-step through claiming their weekly benefits, said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. As soon as it became clear new unemployment recipients were hitting a snag, the Department created easier-to-understand instructions.
Half of the errors happen on the first three questions, by claimants saying they are not available for or actively seeking work, or mistakenly saying they refused available work.
Those who are waiting to be recalled to their current job, or are delaying their job search until the national emergency subsides, should answer yes to Question 2.
How Do I Get Paid
The state of New Jersey offers two different, convenient options for you to receive your New Jersey unemployment benefits: direct deposit or prepaid debit card. When you are going through the process of submitting your application for benefits, you can choose how youd like to receive your weekly payments.
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Understanding New Jersey Unemployment Benefits
Some New Jersey workers who lose their jobs may be eligible for unemployment benefits. These are payments that are made to employees whose job losses were not their fault. The purpose of unemployment benefits is to help workers to pay for their living expenses until they are able to find new jobs. Not all workers are eligible for these benefits, however. The attorneys at Swartz Swidler may provide guidance about unemployment eligibility to workers who have lost their jobs.
New Jersey Unemployment Benefits And Eligibility
COVID-19 UPDATE: Because the coronavirus pandemic has left so many Americans jobless, the federal government has given states more flexibility in granting unemployment benefits. If you have questions about whether youre eligible for unemployment benefits read our COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits and Insurance FAQ and check out the New Jersey Unemployment Insurance Handbook.
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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.
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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New Jersey Unemployment Weekly Claim
In order to keep receiving an unemployment check every week you must file a weekly claim, also known as a weekly certification or continued claim.
The purpose of filing a weekly claim is to tell the unemployment agency that you:
1. Are currently looking for work. 2. Have not done any work this week. 3. Have not made any money this week 4. Have not found another job. 5. Want to receive an unemployment check or payment this week.
Therefore, it is very important to file your weekly claim every week to keep receiving your unemployment check.
If you delay in filing your weekly claim, you may not get your unemployment check on time.
Click Here: Weekly Reminder Email to get a reminder email sent to you every week so that you dont forget to file you weekly claim. This is a free service of UnemploymentHandbook.com because we want to make sure you file your weekly claim on time, and get your unemployment payment on time.
Still Have Questions?
File A Claim Via Telephone
Before unemployment benefits can be paid to you, you must file a claim. There are three Reemployment Call Centers in New Jersey for filing new unemployment claims and reopening existing claims by telephone. The Reemployment Call Centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Your claim will be dated the Sunday of the week in which you call so make sure you call during the week you want your claim to begin. Call volume is heaviest on Mondays, so for faster service, call later in the week.
In order to reduce your call waiting time, it may sometimes be necessary to limit calls by Social Security Number. When this happens, you will be asked to call back at another time.
Telephones are available for use in your local One Stop Career Centers to call long distance to file a claim.
Where to Call:
If your residence is serviced by one of the following One-Stop Career Centers, you will file your unemployment claim by calling the Cumberland Reemployment Call Center at 507-2340.
- Your occupation with that employer.
- Beginning and ending dates of employment.
- Reason for separation.
Also, be ready to choose a 4-digit personal identification number , and tell us whether you want 10% federal income tax withheld from your benefits and whether you want to claim dependency benefits.
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What If I Didnt Receive My Stimulus Checks From Last Year
If you were eligible for the first and second rounds of Economic Impact Payments but still have not received them or didnt receive the full amounts, you may be able to claim a credit in place of the stimulus checks on your taxes under the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit.
For directions on how to claim the credit, visit the IRS instruction page at .
Even if you dont make enough money to normally file taxes, you would have to file a 2020 tax return to receive the credit. If you make less than $72,000, you can file federal taxes for free using Free File. People with low income, the elderly, people with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency can receive free tax counseling from a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance group. Find an organization close to you at .
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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What Is A Marvin Pin
your Personal Identification Number MARVIN allows you to: phone-in your continued weeks of unemployment ask for information about your benefit check, such as the date your last payment was made and the amount. Most claimants are required to use MARVIN to phone in their claims for continued weeks of benefits.
Coronavirus Stimulus Guide: Unemployment Insurance
Republicans had no plan to extend enhanced unemployment insurance, even as millions of Americans remain out of work. Democrats secured an extra $300 a week in addition to ones base unemployment compensation benefit through March and continued unemployment benefits for gig workers.
How do I file for unemployment insurance?
New Jerseyans can apply for unemployment compensation at www.myunemployment.nj.gov. You can also apply by phone by calling one of the following numbers:
- North New Jersey: 201-601-4100
- South New Jersey: 856-507-2340
How much can I get from Unemployment Insurance?
Every state has its own unique unemployment insurance program. New Jerseys programrun by our Department of Labor and Workforce Development provides jobless workers with 60% of their average base pay on a weekly basis. New Jersey provides a maximum weekly benefit of $713 for up to 26 weeks. However, the stimulus provides an extra $300 a week in addition to ones base unemployment compensation benefit through March 14, 2021.
Does the stimulus bill change how much I can get from Unemployment Insurance?
Yes, the stimulus bill provides an extra $300 a week in addition to ones base unemployment compensation benefit through March 14, 2021.That means if you are typically eligible for $600 a week in unemployment compensation, you will see a temporary increase of $300 through March 14, 2021 for a total of $900 a week.
$300 is more than I made before losing my job. Will they reduce my benefit?
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How Do I Appeal A Decision
If you are unhappy with the decision about your claim, you may submit a written appeal once your initial determination is received. This appeal should be submitted within seven calendar days after your notice is received or within 10 calendar days of the mailing date marked on your determination notice.
The fastest and easiest way to file your appeal is by using New Jerseys online appeal form.
You also may mail a statement of appeal to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This statement must include your name, Social Security number, telephone number, and address. In addition, the statement should clearly outline your reasons for disputing the determination. The mailing address is as follows:
New Jersey Department of LaborAppeal TribunalTrenton, NJ 08625-0907
After A Delayed Rollout Due To A Need To Program State Computers For The 11
It took until February but New Jersey Department of Labor finally completed programming for the 11-week benefits extension passed in late December. According to the agency the work got done ahead of schedule although officials were questioned why the state had a delay when New York and Connecticut had not.
The delay that left over 75,000 claimants without extended benefits was blamed on the last-minute federal action to continue benefits beyond the 26 December cutoff. States across the US experienced similar problems due to the bill passing so close to the benefits expiration and the subsequent hesitation to sign the legislation by former President Trump.
States were not given time to program systems for the 11-wk extension to all claimants without delay. The frustrations our workers are feeling are taking place all over the nation right now as a result of last-minute federal action.
NJ Labor Department
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How Do I Report Fraud
UI benefits provide a financial safety net for New Jersey residents and their families, and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development takes seriously any attempt to divert those benefits from the people who need them most.
If you suspect someone of unemployment benefits fraud, you are strongly encouraged to report it using any of the contact methods listed below.
- Phone: 609-777-4304
- Mail: Benefit Payment Control, PO Box 043, Trenton NJ 08625
- Online: Make your report anonymously using New Jerseys online form.
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:
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Unemployment Program Extensions Under Covid Relief Bill
The $900 billion COVID-19 relief package was passed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, which among several other pandemic relief measures extends and provides additional federal funding for enhanced unemployment benefits. This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and a reinstatement, but halving of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program which provides a $300 supplemental weekly unemployment payment. I have also posted this video discussing the frustrations around the current $300 payment!
These programs have been funded and extended for 11 weeks , covering the weeks of December 27th, 2020 to March 14th, 2021. To receive FPUC benefits, you must be receiving regular UI, PEUC, EB, or PUA.
NJ DOL 2021 11-week Extension Payment Details and Updates on $300 FPUC, PUA and PEUC
NJDOL has successfully completed programming for the 11-week benefit extension for the over 75,000 expired PUA and PEUC claims. Claimants who had been waiting and are eligible to claim these 11-weeks should have been notified by email and can certify during their regular schedule once the extended weeks are added to their claim balance. If you have not received your notification AND cannot certify in the next few days your claim is likely held up due to additional manual processing/verification or you were deemed ineligible. Some examples are further discussed in the comments below.
Unemployment Insurance In New Jersey: Funding Benefits And Eligibility
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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.
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