How to Sign Up for Unemployment in New Jersey
If you lose your job, it’s no small matter. Fortunately, you can sign up for unemployment benefits to keep things afloat until you can find a new job or your employer recalls you after a layoff. You can sign up for unemployment in New Jersey by telephone or you may be eligible to do so online. The information below will guide you through the process for both options.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Decide if you need to sign up for unemployment in New Jersey by phone or online. You can file for unemployment online if you are a New Jersey resident and if you worked in the state for during the last 18 months, provided you were not working for the federal government or serving in the military during that time. This is the recommended option if you are eligible because it expedites processing your claim. For non-residents, those who worked for the federal government or who served in the military during the previous 18 months, you must file by telephone.
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2
Have the required information ready when you sign up for unemployment in New Jersey using the Internet. You will need your Social Security number, of course. If you are a non-citizen, you must also provide your alien registration number. If you were hired through a union, you need the name of the union hiring hall and contact information. In cases when an employer plans to recall from a layoff, have the expected recall date. Finally, you need your starting and ending dates of employment, plus names, addresses, and phone numbers for your last 4 employers.
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3
Get together the additional information you need if you must sign up by telephone. Besides the information listed in Step 2 you will need the amount and source of any pension or separation payments you receive. If you were in the military during the previous 18 months you need your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy). For former federal employs you need form SF-8 or SF-50. Use the link below to go to the telephone registration page and scroll down to find the telephone number of the office in your area.
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4
Allow a couple of weeks for your benefits to start, especially if you need to file for unemployment in New Jersey by telephone. Note that your benefits will be paid from the week you file, not the date you last worked. It is important to file for unemployment benefits as quickly as possible.
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5
Use the online facility to claim your unemployment each week. You will get a PIN (Personal Identification Number) when you sign up either by telephone or online. Use this to access your account online and claim your unemployment benefits each week. Remember that they won’t come automatically,--you must check in every week.
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Tips & Warnings
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development maintains a network of One Stop Career Centers as well as administering unemployment benefits. You can find information on these using the link below. They provide a variety of resources for job seekers and can help you find work more quickly.
