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For Agency Professionals

Latest News For You | For Agency Professionals

Living Through A Layoff

Getting Started

So, you have lost your job or learned that you soon will. Here are some “first steps” to take when you learn that you are going to be laid off

• Speak with the company human resource director and make sure your records of accrued vacation days and holidays coincide. Take the time to discuss severance (a benefit package that many companies provide to compensate loyal employees for their many years of service.)
• Contact the unemployment office that serves your area and learn how to file an unemployment claim so that you will be ready to do so when you become unemployed. This is an insurance policy that you have been contributing to throughout your employment and the money you receive in benefits will help you pay the bills while you look for another job.
• If your employer provided health care coverage, learn about COBRA benefits so that you can maintain your health insurance without interruption

Filing an Unemployment Claim

Before unemployment benefits can be paid to you, you must file a claim. You are not permitted to file a claim until you are unemployed. You may file your new unemployment claim, or reopen an existing claim, via the Internet if you meet all the following requirements:

• All of your employment in the past 18 months was in New Jersey
• You did not work for the Federal Government in the past 18 months
• You were not in the military service in the past 18 months

To file your claim, you will need the following information:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your alien registration number (if you are not a citizen)
• Recall date (if you expect to be recalled to your job)
• Union hiring hall information, including local number and address (if you get your work through a union)
• Complete name, address, and telephone number of your four most recent employers
• The beginning and ending dates of each period of employment and the reason for separation from your four most recent employers

If you meet these requirements, and you wish to file your unemployment claim via the Internet, you may do so here. The information you submit is confidential and the Web site is secure. Please note that this site should only be used for filing a new unemployment claim, reopening an existing one or claiming weekly benefits. It cannot be used to contact the agency. If you have a question about your claim or about unemployment insurance, click here.

If you do not wish to file your claim via the Internet, you may file by telephoning your Reemployment Regional Call Center.

Once your unemployment claim has been accepted, you will receive regular benefits. The amount of unemployment benefits you may receive each week is your Weekly Benefit Rate (WBR). The amount will be 60% of the average weekly earnings during your base year period, up to a maximum of $584 (in 2009). The maximum amount may change each year.

Because the government is doing so much to respond to these tough economic times, program guidelines and benefits may change. The most current information about NJ unemployment guidelines and benefits is available here.

Page last modified on 8.25.09