Six Steps for Filing for Unemployment Insurance Benefits in New Jersey

In the time of the Coronavirus (COVID19), many people are concerned about the likelihood of needing to file for unemployment benefits in New Jersey in the near future.

Certainly, many people will be in need of New Jersey State assistance in 2020 and beyond as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and its effects.

Filing for unemployment does not need to be a complicated process.  The filing should be done online at myunemployment.nj.gov .  While the State does have physical locations, given the wide-ranging shut down and social distancing policies, many locations may be closed to the public.  Therefore, filing online is the best way to go.  Here are the six steps to be prepared for in filing for unemployment insurance benefits.

1. Are You Eligible?  If you are out of work because of the coronavirus (but not personally ill yourself), you may qualify for unemployment benefits. If you are personally ill, you may qualify for disability benefits or workers compensation benefits instead of unemployment insurance.  If you are caring for an ill family member, then you may qualify for family leave benefits.  So this would cover only people who get laid off as a result of the virus, or when the employer closes because of the virus and they cannot work remotely, etc.
2.  Get Information Together.  For the unemployment filing, you will need your personal information (such as your social security number).  You will also need the name, address, and telephone number of your employer, your position with the employer, and the start and end dates of your employment.  You will also need to be prepared to give a short explanation of the reason why your employment ended, i.e., layoff due to coronavirus shut down.
3. Create an Account with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. You will need to provide an email address, verify that address and create an account with the State.
4. Login to Your Account & File a Claim. Open up your online dashboard and provide the requested information that you have prepared.
5. Check Your Mail and Email Regularly.  Notices from the State may come in both or either format, so be on the lookout for any notices.  The unemployment office may want to have a call to discuss your reasons for separation; be sure to be on the lookout for any notice of a call.
6. Follow Directions, Make Use of Resources, and Claim Benefits Weekly. New Jersey’s Department of Labor requires beneficiaries to try to find other employment, use resources available through the State, and sometimes even go to workshops to assist with your employability. The State also requires you to continue to claim benefits on a weekly basis and certify that you are trying to find another job.

There is also the possibility for obtaining partial unemployment benefits.  For instance, if you are still employed, but your hours have been reduced significantly, you may qualify to receive partial benefits.  Moreover, you do not need to be laid off permanently to collect.

We are open and here to help you.  The New Jersey employment attorneys at McLaughlin & Nardi, LLC are experienced in assisting with all manner of employment questions from people and businesses who need help with the many employment challenges that have been created by the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis.   To learn more about what we can do to help, please e-mail us at info.esqnj.com or contact us at (973) 890-0004.