New Jersey unemployment insurance offers assistance to citizens who have lost their jobs or whose employment has been influenced by a natural disaster. Unemployment payments give temporary partial wage replacement to sustain workers while they looking for employment. In order to collect unemployment insurance payments, you should file a claim only when you become unemployed or partially employed. You can even apply for unemployment benefits online or over the telephone in New Jersey.
To be eligible for unemployment benefits in New Jersey, you must be a New Jersey resident and have become unemployed through no fault of your own. All of your employment must be in New Jersey for the 18 months before applying for benefits and you must, since 2011 have earned a minimum of $7,300 or worked 20 consecutive weeks before looking for unemployment.
If you are one of the many people who have lost their jobs during the present economic recession, it is important to apply for unemployment benefits on time.
How to Claim Unemployment Insurance in New Jersey
Have available a paper and pencil, your Social Security number and –for direct deposit –your banking information. Record employer information for all jobs in the last 18 months, providing name, address, telephone number, starting and end dates of employment, and cause you are no longer working there.
Apply Online:
Filing online is encouraged if you meet all the following requirements,
- All of your work was in New Jersey in the past 18 months;
- You did not work for the federal government in the past 18 months;
- You did not serve in the military in the past 18 months;
- You did not work as a maritime employee in the past 18 months;
- You do not reside outside the United States;
- You do not want to reopen or file a claim for extended benefits.
If you meet these necessities, you can file your unemployment claim at www.njuifile.net. Fill out the complete form, take care that your computer is not idle for 30 minutes or more and you do not exit, or your session will “time out” and all your information will be lost.
The details you put forward is confidential. The online application makes use of a secure connection in order to encrypt the data you submit. Moreover, there are no limitations on the web. Claims may be filed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Apply by Telephone:
If you are not eligible to file online or would prefer to apply by telephone you may call the Reemployment Call Center.
There are 3 Reemployment Call Centers in New Jersey for filing new unemployment claims and continuing existing claims by telephone. The Reemployment Call Centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
You may file by telephoning your Reemployment Call Center.
Union City (Serves Northeast New Jersey): (201) 601-4100
Freehold (Serves Northwest and Central New Jersey): (732) 761-2020
Cumberland (Serves South Jersey): (856) 507-2340
Out-of-State: (888) 795-6672
Because of high call volume, the Division of Unemployment Insurance has lessened the days to file or reopen a claim for benefits by the last digit of your Social Security Number (SSN). Below is the programmed day to call depending on the last digit of your SSN:
- Last digit of SSN is 0 – 3 call on Monday.
- Last digit of SSN is 4 – 6 call on Tuesday.
- Last digit of SSN is 7 – 9 call on Wednesday.
There are no limits on Social Security Numbers on Thursdays or Fridays.
Your call will be dated the Sunday of the week in which you call so ensure you call during the week you want your claim to start. The Unemployment Insurance Division’s week runs Sunday to Saturday. Call volume is heaviest on Mondays, so call later in the week for faster service.
If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, a check will be mailed out the following business day after you claim your benefits using the telephone or the Internet.
Remember not to file unemployment insurance claims on websites that charge fees for filing unemployment insurance claims. There are in no way any charges to file in any state.
