Head Office
New Jersey Department of Labor
PO Box 058
Trenton, NJ 08625-0058
United States
Customer Service
Phone: 201-601-4100 (north)
Phone: 732-761-2020 (central)
Phone: 856-507-2340 (south)
Phone: 888-795-6672 (others)
Email: jobseekersupport@dol.nj.gov (job seeker support)
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About New Jersey unemployment benefits
The Division of Unemployment Insurance in New Jersey is the agency responsible for extending financial relief for residents who are eligible for unemployment benefits. Part of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the agency administers the insurance program to support people who have lost their jobs for no fault of their own. Workers who have voluntarily quit and were fired for misconduct will not be eligible for benefits. Additionally, the law also requires that individuals have been actively seeking work.
A snapshot of the Division of Unemployment Insurance page
Applicants are expected to meet the state’s base earnings requirement. The base year period consists of the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters and consists of 52 weeks. According to information gathered, claimants must have earned a minimum $200 per week or $10,000 in total covered employment during base period. The weekly benefits to be received will be based on the wages earned and the total amount you can claim in a year. The Benefit Calculator on the website is useful for accessing the payment. The maximum weekly benefit rate in 2020 has been capped at $713.
Filing a claim can be done on phone, at nearest office or online by creating an account. Information you need to furnish include your Social Security Number, Alien Registration Number (for non-US citizens), and employment details along with name and address of employer. If your claim has been approved, you will receive a determination letter. If you have been denied, you have the right to file an appeal for redetermination. Claimants can file an appeal online or by mail within 7 days of receiving the letter. A hearing will then be scheduled in person or via phone.
For those who have been approved, there are two ways of receiving benefits – direct deposit and through the prepaid debit card. For direct bank deposit, you need to furnish your bank details by signing into your account. Note that claimants must certify for benefits each week to receive payment. The same can be easily done from your account online. If you have received benefits you are not entitled to, you are advised to return same through credit card or e-check payments.
Even as you receive weekly benefits, the law requires you continue to seek for job. For same, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development created the Career Connections platform to help job seekers find employment. You can create an account on the website and start making connections with businesses. If you need help with job search assistance, you can visit any nearest One-Stop Career Centers. Spread across all major counties, they also help job seekers with resume assistance, training, tuition waiver and counseling.
