Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Most likely yes. The new law that was signed March 27^th can provide assistance to many NJ workers impacted by COVID-19. Under the law, there are three types of assistance:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance: expands eligibility for individuals who are typically ineligible for Unemployment benefits, for example independent contractors, and self-employed and “gig” workers; those who do not have enough earnings to qualify for regular unemployment; and eligible individuals who are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to available to work due to a covered COVID-19 reason.

Pandemic Unemployment Compensation: provides an additional $600 per week, on top of regular benefits, to all recipients of Unemployment Insurance; retroactive to the week ending April 4, 2020.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation: provides an additional 13 weeks of Unemployment benefits to all recipients.

A NJ worker who is otherwise able to work and available to work except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work and is experiencing any of the following COVID-19 scenarios would likely be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA):

You are sick, quarantined, or exposed:

You were diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms and seeking medical diagnosis
You were advised by a medical provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19
A member of your household was diagnosed with COVID–19

You need care for a family member or household member:

You are providing care for a family member or a member of your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
You are the primary caregiver for a child or family member who is unable to attend school or another facility closed due to COVID-19
You became the breadwinner because the head of household has died from COVID-19

You lost employment or hours:

Your place of employment is closed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency
You quit your job because you were diagnosed with COVID-19 and continuing work is not possible, or because you came into contact with an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and a medical professional advised that you resign in order to quarantine
You are unable to reach your place of employment due to an imposed quarantine or you were scheduled to commence employment and do not have a job or are unable to reach the job due to COVID-19

Not typically eligible for unemployment benefits:

Self-employed / independent contractors / 1099 filers / farmers - and impacted by COVID-19
Seeking part-time employment but impacted by COVID-19
You do not have sufficient work history and are impacted by COVID-19
You are otherwise not qualified for regular or extended unemployment benefits and are impacted by COVID-19
You exhausted all benefits under regular unemployment and are impacted by COVID-19

To apply, complete an application for regular unemployment. Just as with self-employed workers and independent contractors, per federal rules the first step to access these expanded benefits is that you need to be found ineligible for traditional unemployment benefits, which means you need to apply and be denied. You always have the right to file an appeal for a denial, but that can be a lengthy process, and NJDOL will contact you regarding next steps and to gather any additional information necessary to assess you for PUA. The PUA benefits can be paid retroactively for periods of unemployment, beginning on or after February 2, 2020.

You may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits, and should apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov. See our FAQ in the next section on this page about applying and certifying for UI benefits for helpful tips. If your claim is denied, you can always file an appeal, which takes time. If denied, you are also likely eligible for benefits under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), since ineligibility for regular unemployment is a prerequisite for receiving these expanded benefits due to COVID-19. In this case, you will need to gather the last two years of your tax returns, or other evidence of income history, which will be necessary for processing your claim once the federal rules are established. The PUA benefits can be paid retroactively for periods of unemployment beginning or after January 27, 2020. Additional details will be posted online as they become available.

You do not have to do anything except continue to certify weekly to receive the $600/week. Residents already collecting unemployment will begin to see their $600 supplemental unemployment benefit arrive April 14 (for the week of March 29th). This taxable $600 payment is issued separately each week – you may receive it at the same time as your regular Unemployment benefits, or a few days later. It will usually be deposited into your account on Monday or Tuesday.

The 13-week extension will be added to an eligible claim automatically. You may also be eligible for an additional 20 weeks of state unemployment benefits. Learn more here.

Yes, under the CARES Act you are likely eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits provided by Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. You may also be eligible for an additional 20 weeks of state unemployment benefits. Learn more here.

What do I need to do to access the 13-week extension of benefits? Are you currently receiving or have applied for unemployment benefits? If yes, no action is required. The 13-week extension will be automatically available to you after your current balance is exhausted. Otherwise, read the scenarios below:

SCENARIO A: Do these describe you?

On a date after July 8, 2018, I filed for unemployment.
I have not worked since the dates in 2018-2020 when I collected unemployment.
I have exhausted my balance OR my benefit year ended on my most recent claim.
I did not receive 13 weeks of PEUC on any claim.

If these describe you, certify for weekly benefits on your scheduled day/time. PEUC will be added to an eligible claim automatically.

SCENARIO B: Do these describe you?

On a date after July 8, 2018, I filed for unemployment.
I have worked since the dates in 2018-2019 when I collected unemployment.

If both describe you, file a new claim if you haven’t already.

SCENARIO C: Do these describe you?

On a date after July 1, 2019, I filed for unemployment benefits.
I have not utilized all 26 weeks of benefits.

If both describe you, re-open your claim if currently closed. Begin certifying for benefits again.

You are likely eligible under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. These benefits can be paid retroactively for periods of unemployment, beginning on or after January 27, 2020. See our FAQs on Unemployment: Applying, certifying for benefits for helpful tips, and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov. Additional details will be posted online as they become available.

You are likely eligible under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance but it will depend on your individual circumstances. These benefits can be paid retroactively for periods of unemployment, beginning on or after January 27, 2020. See our FAQs on Unemployment: Applying, certifying for benefits for helpful tips, and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov. Additional details will be posted online as they become available.

Yes, if you exhausted your Unemployment benefits, you are likely eligible for 13 additional weeks under Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

SCENARIO A: Do these describe you?

On a date after July 8, 2018, I filed for unemployment.
I have not worked since the dates in 2018-2020 when I collected unemployment.
I have exhausted my balance OR my benefit year ended on my most recent claim.
I did not receive 13 weeks of PEUC on any claim.

If these describe you, certify for weekly benefits on your scheduled day/time. PEUC will be added to an eligible claim automatically.

SCENARIO B: Do these describe you?

On a date after July 8, 2018, I filed for unemployment.
I have worked since the dates in 2018-2019 when I collected unemployment.

If both describe you, file a new claim if you haven’t already.

SCENARIO C: Do these describe you?

On a date after July 1, 2019, I filed for unemployment benefits.
I have not utilized all 26 weeks of benefits.

If both describe you, re-open your claim if currently closed. Begin certifying for benefits again.

The CARES Act that was signed March 27^th can provide assistance to many NJ workers impacted by COVID-19 and has expanded Unemployment benefits, making it the optimal choice for many who cannot work due to coronavirus-related circumstances. Please note that you cannot receive benefits from these programs at the same time. Read these FAQs, including Unemployment: Applying, certifying for benefits for helpful tips, and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov, which also has answers to questions about the program in general.

First, read Worker Benefits and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to learn about our laws and programs, including Earned Sick Leave, Temporary Disability, and Family Leave. There are helpful guides on the right-hand side of the page that you can download and print. NJ Earned Sick Leave, emergency federal paid sick and emergency FMLA childcare leave are paid by your employer directly. Unemployment, Temporary Disability and Family Leave benefits require an application to the State of NJ. Be sure you apply for the program that best fits your situation - applying for the wrong one could cause delays. Please do not apply if you continue to be working your normal hours.

NJ’s Unemployment Insurance system is experiencing record levels of demand due to coronavirus and all in-person services statewide are currently closed due to COVID-19. Some people cannot get through online or on the phone. We understand your anxiety and frustration, and we apologize. We’re working diligently to serve all our customers and ask for your patience. Please keep trying. We’re committed to ensuring that everyone receives their benefits during this crisis. You will not lose a day’s benefits as all claims will be backdated to the date you submitted your claim.

Applying online at myunemployment.nj.gov is fastest and we recommend filing in the evening or early in the morning.
If there are glitches in our online systems, keep trying.
Please note that it’s not possible to save your online application and return to it. You must complete it and submit it all at once.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation number at the end of your application. Write it down. You will receive email instructions on how and when to claim benefits. If you don’t receive an email, you must phone the call center (see numbers below).

All claims have a start date of the Sunday of the week in which the worker files the unemployment application, so there is no rush to file on the day you cannot work. As long as you file by Saturday at midnight, you will receive credit back to the previous Sunday. If your last day of work is a Friday or Saturday, and you worked the full week, please wait to file until after Sunday. Otherwise, you may inadvertently file for a week when you actually worked.

If you need specific questions answered before you apply, please first review these FAQs and the webpages listed. You can try to reach our Unemployment program on the phone.

We’re experiencing record high call volume, but we’re working diligently to serve all our customers and ask for your patience.

North Jersey:  201-601-4100
Central Jersey:  732-761-2020
Southern Jersey:  856-507-2340

With so many people filing for Unemployment for the first time, some folks have questions about the procedure for telling the State that you remain under- or unemployed, also known as “certifying for weekly benefits.”

First, please read our article about certifying for benefits related to the coronavirus emergency.

Due to high volume, we're taking steps to ensure the stability of our online application. Each week, please claim weekly benefits according to our most updated schedule, based on the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Unemployment benefits provide 60% of average wages, with a maximum of $713 per week, plus an additional $600 per week through July due to the CARES Act.

The time to process a claim depends on many factors, including - but not limited to - number of employers, benefits history, and employment history.

Please note the following:

(1) be sure you file for the right benefit program (see our page about information on employer-provided paid leave and other state benefits);

(2) filing online is the fastest;

(3) provide all required information;

(4) the system is experiencing record-high levels of demand.

We understand that this can be extremely challenging for many New Jerseyans. We are working as quickly as we can to process claims. You will not lose a day’s benefits as all claims will be backdated to the date you submitted your claim. Visit covid19.nj.gov to locate services that can help you and your family at this time.

You apply in New Jersey at myunemployment.nj.gov.

Please notify the Temporary Disability / Family Leave Insurance division by sending a message via their online form. We are working with the Unemployment Insurance division to find a solution to this technical issue. Please note we are experiencing very high volume due to the coronavirus emergency, but we’re working diligently to serve all our customers and ask for your patience. We understand your frustration and we apologize.

You are likely eligible for unemployment insurance. Learn more and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov

You are likely eligible for unemployment insurance. Learn more and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov.

You are likely eligible. Eligibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Learn more and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov.

Yes. Click here for more information about applying for Unemployment Insurance after receiving Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance benefits.

Our easy-to-understand guide provides a list of COVID-19 scenarios and benefits and programs that may apply.

For most New Jersey workers, yes. The only exceptions are federal government and some local municipality workers (for example: public school teachers).

Once your healthcare provider determines your pregnancy prevents you from working (typically 4 weeks prior to your due date), notify the Division of Unemployment Insurance to suspend your Unemployment benefits.

Next, apply for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits for the period during pregnancy and delivery recovery.

Once your Temporary Disability period ends, you can apply for NJ Family Leave Insurance to bond with your baby.

In general, you will receive the same weekly benefit amount as you were receiving on your Unemployment Insurance claim. Click here for more information on how benefits are calculated.

Temporary Disability Insurance provides up to 26 weeks of benefits while you are unable to work. Your healthcare provider will determine the date that your medical condition prevents you from working and the duration of leave you will need. Most physicians recommend an expectant mother stop working 4 weeks before her scheduled due date, and that she recover for 6-8 weeks after childbirth. If your healthcare provider recommends quarantine outside of the above time frame due to your pregnancy and the risk of coronavirus you may be payable for a longer period of time. Your health care provider must provide the pre-existing diagnosis (pregnancy) and the duration you are expected to be out of work. For more information on benefits during pregnancy and newborn bonding click here.

Currently, workers can receive a total of 6 weeks of family leave per year regardless of the reason for leave. In addition to family leave benefits, a worker can also use employer provided paid time off such as NJ earned sick leave and federal emergency sick leave. New Jersey workers have the right to accrue up to 40 hours of earned sick time. For more information on NJ Earned Sick Leave, click here.

In addition to New Jersey’s wage replacement program and earned sick leave, you may also qualify for up to 80 hours of Federal emergency paid sick leave to care for a loved one. See NJDOL’s publication What NJ Workers Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for more information.

Yes. The federal emergency childcare leave is in addition to NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave benefits (a.k.a. Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance). However, you cannot receive NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave benefits while you’re being paid by your employer so these leaves cannot be used at the same time. See NJDOL’s publication What NJ Workers Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for more information. Please take note that your employer has the ability to count both federal emergency childcare leave and your pregnancy/recovery leave against your total federal job-protection (FMLA) balance of 12 weeks per 12-month period.

Yes. Apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov. Click here for more information on Unemployment Insurance after Temporary Disability, and see the Unemployment Insurance FAQ section in the other tab on this page.

Simply apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov. However, if your Family Leave claim was started during a period of unemployment, you will have to call Unemployment Insurance and explain your situation. They will ensure that your Family Leave claim is ended and your UI claim is activated. The Unemployment Insurance program is experiencing record high call volume but we’re working diligently to serve all our customers and ask for your patience.

North Jersey:  201-601-4100
Central Jersey:  732-761-2020
Southern Jersey:  856-507-2340

Under the new federal CARES Act, if you are unable to work because you are providing care to a family member who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you are eligible for Unemployment benefits. You do not have to take any action. Continue to certify for your weekly benefits.

The CARES Act that was signed March 27^th can provide assistance to many NJ workers impacted by COVID-19 and has expanded Unemployment benefits, making it the optimal choice for many who cannot work due to coronavirus-related circumstances. Please note that you cannot receive benefits from these programs at the same time. See our FAQs on Unemployment: Applying, certifying for benefits for helpful tips, and apply online at myunemployment.nj.gov.

You are likely eligible for NJ Earned Sick Leave, and if your employer has less than 500 employees, you are likely eligible for the federal emergency paid sick leave and emergency FMLA childcare leave. If you are no longer receiving pay from your employer, you are also likely eligible for Unemployment Insurance. For more information on NJ Earned Sick Leave, see mysickdays.nj.gov and see NJDOL’s publication What NJ Workers Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

No, if you use the 12 weeks because your children do not have school or child care, then you will have exhausted your FMLA coverage for the year. But, you may be eligible for NJ benefits. In NJ, most workers have access to NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave benefits and it is against the law for an employer to retaliate against you for taking these benefits. Although you may not have job protection through FMLA for a leave related to your own medical condition, you may have job protection through the NJ Family Leave Act for a leave related to caregiving for a loved one or bonding with a new child.

It is against the law for an employer to retaliate against you for using or seeking to use your Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance benefits. In addition, many NJ workers also have job protection for medical leave under another law, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, and for family leave under the NJ Family Leave Act. Your NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave period may overlap with your coverage under these laws. It’s also possible that you are eligible for NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave benefits, but not covered under the job protection laws.

As a general matter, employers can set the terms of PTO usage unless there is an employee handbook, union contract, or prior agreement that says otherwise. In the absence of any of those, the company can require it to be used. The NJ Department of Labor enforces Breach of Contract but the contract must be in writing. An employer may not require you use your PTO before accessing NJ Family Leave Insurance, NJ earned sick leave, or the new federal emergency paid sick leave. See NJDOL’s publication What NJ Workers Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for more information.

Employers pay their employees for the emergency leave, and employers can take advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse employers, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing the leave. For more details, see the IRS website and https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic.

Certain self-employed individuals are also eligible for a tax credit for emergency paid sick and FMLA childcare leave for days they are unable to perform services in any trade or business. For more details, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic.

You can use the new federal emergency paid leaves for leave taken between April 1st and December 31st, 2020. They are not retroactive.

As a NJ worker, you are likely eligible for NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave benefits through NJ’s family leave insurance program. Family leave insurance provides partial wage replacement benefits during the time you need to care for an ill loved one.

For additional guidance on, see USDOL’s Questions and Answers on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

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Department of Labor & Workforce Development

NJ Workers: Frequently Asked Questions During the Coronavirus Emergency

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Department of Labor & Workforce Development

NJ Workers: Frequently Asked Questions During the Coronavirus Emergency

My work has been negatively impacted because of coronavirus. Can the CARES Act, the new federal stimulus law, help me?

What kind of coronavirus scenarios would qualify me for help under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and how do I apply?

I’m a gig worker/freelancer/independent contractor and I have no work or I lost hours due to the coronavirus emergency. Am I eligible for Unemployment under the CARES Act?

I’ve been receiving Unemployment due to the coronavirus emergency and I heard that the CARES Act will provide an additional $600 per week, and an additional 13 weeks of benefits. Do I have to do anything to receive these enhanced benefits?

I’m worried my Unemployment benefits are about to run out. Will there be an extension due to coronavirus? Do I have to do anything to receive this extension?

What if I don’t have enough work history to qualify for benefits or I was just laid off from a new job – will I qualify for Unemployment benefits?

What if I was just about to start a new job and now I can’t get there due to the coronavirus emergency?

I’ve already exhausted my Unemployment benefits. Am I eligible under the federal stimulus law?

I seem to be eligible for both Unemployment and NJ Temporary Disability/Family Leave Insurance due to coronavirus circumstances. What should I do?

Should I apply for Unemployment?

I’m having web and/or phone issues with the Unemployment system. What’s going on?

Do you have any tips on applying for Unemployment?

How does the timing of my filing work?

I don’t want to apply for Unemployment until my questions are answered. How can I get help?

I’ve been approved for Unemployment. Now what?

How much will my benefits be?

How long will it take to get my Unemployment benefits?

I work in New Jersey but I live in a different state and I need to apply for Unemployment. Where do I apply?

I just finished taking Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance and now I’m eligible for Unemployment. I tried to apply for Unemployment online but it says that I already have a claim open with zero balance.

Should I apply for Unemployment?

What if my employer has gone out of business due to the coronavirus emergency?

What if I’m still employed but I’m not getting enough hours from my employer?

What if my employer has furloughed me?

I’m a substitute teacher and I’m no longer able to work due to school closures. Am I eligible for Unemployment?

Can I apply for Unemployment Insurance immediately after collecting Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance?

I am still confused about what help may be available to individuals who are financially impacted by COVID-19.

I’m pregnant and I’m collecting Unemployment Insurance due to the coronavirus emergency. As my due date approaches can I apply for NJ Temporary Disability Insurance (aka Paid Medical Leave) for my pregnancy and delivery?

If I collected Unemployment Insurance immediately before applying for Temporary Disability benefits during pregnancy, will this affect my weekly disability benefit amount?

I’m pregnant and my healthcare provider recommends quarantine due to the risk of coronavirus to my pregnancy. Will this affect how long I can receive Temporary Disability benefits during pregnancy and childbirth recovery?

I’m pregnant and still able to work but I need to care for a loved one who is sick with COVID-19. If I use NJ Family Leave Insurance now to care for my loved one, will I be able to use it again for bonding once my baby is born?

I’m pregnant and need federal emergency FMLA childcare leave to care for my other child(ren) while not working due to coronavirus-related lack of school/child care. Can I still take NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave for pregnancy, birth, and bonding?

Can I apply for Unemployment Insurance immediately after collecting Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance?

I’ve been collecting Family Leave Insurance benefits to care for a loved one who is ill, but now I’m eligible for Unemployment and I want to end my Family Leave. How do I switch?

I just finished taking Temporary Disability or Family Leave Insurance and now I’m eligible for Unemployment. I tried to apply for Unemployment online but it says that I already have a claim open with zero balance.

What if I’ve been collecting Unemployment benefits and a family member gets sick with COVID-19 and I must care for them - what options do I have for benefits?

I seem to be eligible for both Unemployment and NJ Temporary Disability/Family Leave Insurance due to coronavirus circumstances. What should I do?

My child(ren)’s school is closed due to coronavirus and I cannot work because I must care for them. Am I eligible for benefits?

If I use the 12 weeks of Expanded Family & Medical Leave (FMLA) to watch my children who are home from school, and then I need to stop working later in the year for another medical or family reason, will I be covered under FMLA?

If I take NJ Paid Family & Medical Leave (Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance benefits), will my job be protected during my leave?

Can my employer make me use my employer-provided PTO (paid time off) during the coronavirus emergency?

Who pays for the new federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family & Medical Leave?

Are self-employed or “gig” workers covered under the new Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family & Medical Leave?

When can I access these emergency paid leaves?

If I use the 12 weeks of Expanded Family & Medical Leave (FMLA) to watch my children who are home from school, and then I need to stop working later in the year for another medical or family reason, will I be covered under FMLA?

What if I use up all my emergency paid sick leave and other paid time off to care for a loved one who is ill or quarantined due to coronavirus, and I need more paid leave to care for them?

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