New Jersey Unemployment

New Jersey Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Unemployment insurance in New Jersey provides temporary financial support for New Jersey workers who lose employment through no fault of their own.

Administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, funding for unemployment insurance benefits comes from a payroll tax paid by employers. Jobless benefits partially replace income to help unemployed workers while they look for new work.

New Jersey Unemployment Services

Website	https://www.myunemployment.nj.gov
Private Website	New Jersey Unemployment
Phone	888-795-6672
Email	Contact Form
Apply Online	Registration Form
Weekly Certification	Certify for Weekly Benefits
Appeal a Denial	Claimant Appeals
Find a Local Office	Office Locations
Report Fraud	Unemployment Fraud Form
Coronavirus Updates	COVID-19 Worker Protections

Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits in New Jersey?

To qualify for unemployment assistance in New Jersey, you must meet all applicable eligibility requirements as defined by New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Law. Those requirements include the following:

• The claimant is unemployed through no fault of his or her own
• The claimant is able and willing to accept suitable work when it’s offered
• The claimant shows documented sufficient recent earnings that meet the minimum required by New Jersey law
• The claimant worked in New Jersey during the past 12 months
• The claimant is actively seeking work during each week a UI benefit check is collected

No determination of eligibility can be made until you apply, so if you think you meet the criteria outlined above, submit your UI benefits application as soon as you become unemployed.

Benefit Payments and Duration

Base Period	First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters
Alt Base Period	Last 4 completed quarters

Duration of Benefits	Weekly Payment		Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year)
	Min	Max
20-26 weeks	$120	$713	$18,538

How Do I Apply for Unemployment Benefits in New Jersey?

The easiest and fastest way to submit your new unemployment claim is online. Once you’ve created an account, you can log in to file your initial claim, to check the status of your unemployment claim. You can also submit your weekly UI benefits claims throughout the time that you collect benefits.

If you’re unable to submit your initial unemployment claim online, customer service agents at the numbers below are available to accept your unemployment compensation benefits claim over the phone:

• North New Jersey:  201-601-4100
• Central New Jersey:  732-761-2020
• South New Jersey:  856-507-2340
• Out-of-state claims:  888-795-6672

Please note that submitting your initial claim by phone may include substantial wait times.

Managing Your New Jersey Unemployment Benefits

To receive benefits each week, you must certify that you are able to work, are actively seeking work, and will accept work if and when it is offered.

Each week, you will submit weekly certification using the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s weekly certification form. With this form, you will answer questions about whether you remain eligible for your weekly benefit, based on your work search and employment activity from the prior week. You must submit your weekly certification form in order to collect benefits for the previous week – failure to do so can mean a delay in receiving your benefit payment.

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 you’d like to receive your weekly payments. 

New Jersey Direct Deposit

If you choose the direct deposit option, your weekly compensation amount will automatically be deposited into your bank account each week. Before signing up for this option, check with your bank or credit union to confirm that it will accept direct deposit. You’ll need to submit with your application your complete direct deposit information, including your bank account and routing numbers. 

Generally, you can expect to receive your weekly benefit deposit within a couple of days of your certifying for unemployment benefits. Please note that if attempts to deposit your weekly benefits are unsuccessful because of incorrect account information, the state of New Jersey will suspend your direct deposits and mail you a prepaid debit card instead.

Weekly direct deposits will continue as long as your unemployment claim remains active, and as long as you complete the certification process for benefits each week. If you change your mind about receiving your benefits via direct deposit, you can always log in to your account and change your information. 

For example, you can switch to receiving a prepaid debit card by selecting Update Direct Deposit from the Manage My Account section after logging into your account. Then, simply complete the Authorization for Benefit Payment by Direct Deposit or Debit Card form and email it to the address specified. Or, if you choose to have payments deposited into a different account, you can update the account and routing numbers through your online account as well.

New Jersey Debit Card

If you choose to receive benefits via a prepaid debit card, you don’t have to do anything. All applicants who choose not to sign up for direct deposit automatically are issued prepaid Bank of America debit cards. You will receive your first card within 7-10 days after initially qualifying for unemployment benefits. Watch your mail carefully – your debit card will arrive in an unmarked envelope that will contain detailed instructions about how to activate and use it.

While you remain eligible for benefits, your benefits will be deposited onto your card within two days of certifying for benefits for the previous week. Each debit card you receive will remain active for four years. And even if you are hired for work, it’s important to keep any unexpired debit cards in case you need to open an account again in the future. If you need to reapply for unemployment benefits, the state of New Jersey will use any existing, unexpired debit card to deliver your benefits. 

What if my debit card is stolen?

In the case of a lost or stolen benefits debit card, you can call Bank of America directly to cancel the existing card and request a replacement.

How To Change Payment Method

If you decide that you’d prefer to have your benefits delivered via direct deposit, you may log into your account and change your payment method within your dashboard. Please note that this type of change is processed only once each week, so the change may not take effect until the Tuesday after you initiate the change through your account.  

When you submit your application, it’s important to apply for every state program that might prove helpful – for example, New Jersey disability benefits, state unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation, or Temporary Disability Insurance. 

It’s important to note that in addition to weekly unemployment compensation, New Jersey offers health insurance subsidies for unemployed New Jersey residents – as long as you don’t have other options for affordable health coverage through a former employer, a spouse’s employer, New Jersey Medicaid or federal Medicare. 

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 Jersey’s 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 Labor
Appeal Tribunal
PO Box 907
Trenton, NJ 08625-0907

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
• Fax: 609-292-5593
• Mail: Benefit Payment Control, PO Box 043, Trenton NJ 08625
• Online: Make your report anonymously using New Jersey’s online form.

New Jersey Unemployment Office Locations

Camden County Unemployment Office	101 Woodcrest Road Suite 127 Cherry Hill, NJ 08003	856-549-0600
Essex County One Stop Center	50 S Clinton Street 2nd Floor East Orange, NJ 07018-3120	973-395-3220
Monmouth County Unemployment Office	17 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724-1879	732-683-8850
Union County Unemployment Office – Elizabeth	921 Elizabeth Avenue Elizabeth, NJ 07201	908-965-3929
Hunterdon County Unemployment Office	6 Gauntt Place Flemington, NJ 08822	908-782-2371
Bergen Unemployment Office	60 State Street Hackensack, NJ 07601-5427	201-329-9600
Jersey City Unemployment Office	438 Summit Avenue 1st Floor Jersey City, NJ 07306-3175	201-795-8800
Morris County Unemployment Office	1 Medical Drive Suite 100 Morris Plains, NJ 07950	973-829-8504
Monmouth County Unemployment Office	60 Taylor Avenue Neptune, NJ 07753-4844	732-775-1566
New Brunswick Unemployment Office	550 Jersey Avenue New Brunswick, NJ 08901	732-937-6200
Newark Unemployment Office	990 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102	973-648-3370
Sussex County Unemployment Office	9 Hampton House Rd Route 206 N Newton, NJ 07860-1818	973-383-2775
Passaic County Unemployment Office	25 Howe Avenue Passaic, NJ 07055-4007	973-742-9226
Passaic County Unemployment Office	200 Memorial Drive Paterson, NJ 07505	973-742-9226
Middlesex County Unemployment Office	161 New Brunswick Avenue Perth Amboy, NJ 08861	732-293-5016
Warren County Unemployment Office	445 Marshall Street Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Union County One Stop Career – Plainfield	200 West 2nd Street Plainfield, NJ 07060-1218	908-965-3920
Atlantic County Unemployment Office	2 South Main Street Pleasantville, NJ 08232	609-813-3900
Morris County Unemployment Office	13 Emery Ave Randolph, NJ 07869	1-862-397-5600
Cape May County Unemployment Office	3801 Rt. 9 South Unit # 3 Rio Grande, NJ 08242	609-224-2000
Salem County Unemployment Office	174 East Broadway Salem, NJ 08079	856-935-7007
Greater Raritan Unemployment Office	75 Veterans Memorial Drive East Suite 102 Somerville, NJ 08876-2950	908-704-3000
American Job Center Gloucester County	215 Crown Point Road Suite 200 Thorofare, NJ 08086	856-384-3700
Ocean County Unemployment Office	1027 Hooper Avenue #6 Toms River, NJ 08753	732-286-5616
Mercer County Unemployment Office	26 Yard Avenue Station Plaza 4 Trenton, NJ 08625	609-989-6523
Hudson County Unemployment Office	530 48th Street Union City, NJ 07087	201-369-5205
Cumberland County Unemployment Office	3322 College Drive Cumberland County College Vineland, NJ 08360	856-696-6600
Burlington County Unemployment Office	795 Woodlane Road Westampton, NJ 08060	609-518-3900

Get Help With Benefits Today

We’re here to help. Check out our posts on unemployment benefits in Kansas and Kentucky, and visit our page to learn more about the benefits available to you no matter where you live.