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New Jersey
Unemploy­ment Law

What You Need to Know About Unemployment Benefits in New Jersey

This site provides clear, accurate information on collecting unemployment benefits in New Jersey, including:

• whether you are eligible for benefits
• how to apply for benefits
• how much you'll get (and how long your benefits will last)
• what you'll have to do to keep collecting benefits, and
• what to do if your application is denied.

Here are three key things to keep in mind as you get started:

1. You can apply for benefits -- and find helpful resources -- at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website.

Before you file for unemployment, you may want to learn more by reading our articles on benefit amounts, who qualifies for benefits, and so on. Once you're ready to file, you can do it online. And, you can find detailed information and resources at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website, including:

• New Jersey's online portal where you can file your claim for benefits
• the How to Certify for Benefits Online page, where you can learn how to file your weekly claims for benefits in New Jersey once your application is approved
• Make Sure You Are Actively Seeking Work, which explains the work search requirements you will have to meet in New Jersey in order to keep receiving benefits
• Unemployment Insurance: Your Rights and Responsibilities, a detailed guide to collecting unemployment in New Jersey, and
• information about how and when to file an appeal in New Jersey if your application for benefits is denied.

2. Eligibility rules, benefit amounts, and duration differ from state to state.

Unemployment insurance works pretty much the same everywhere: Employers pay into a fund or purchase insurance, then former employees receive benefits when they lose their jobs. But the rules about who qualifies for unemployment, how long unemployment lasts, and especially how much you will receive in benefits vary a lot from state to state. 

Our site covers every state and the District of Columbia; this page gives you information specific to New Jersey. 

3. You may be eligible for benefits even if you quit, you were fired for cause, or you are still working part-time.

Some people mistakenly believe that unemployment is available only to employees who are laid off. However, you don't have to lose your job in a layoff to qualify for benefits. The key question is whether you are out of work without fault on your part. So, if you were forced to quit your job in lieu of being fired, or you were fired because you don't have the necessary skills for your job, you could still be eligible for benefits. 

New Jersey Unemploy­ment Law