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New Jersey Unemployment Benefit Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for New Jersey Unemployment benefits, you must file a claim. Usually, the claim will be backdated no further than the Sunday of the week you filed. However, there are some circumstances that allow for the backdating of your claim (Examples: you were working reduced hours with your employer; you attempted to file a claim against another state).
If you believe your claim should be backdated, mention it to the agent when you file your claim by telephone.
If you file your claim via the Internet, you may request your claim be backdated by calling the New Jersey Unemployment Reemployment Call Centers (RCC) at: Union City RCC (201) 601-4100, Freehold RCC (732) 761-2020 or Cumberland RCC (856) 507-2340. read more
To be eligible for New Jersey unemployment benefits, you must have worked at least 20 base weeks in covered employment or you must have earned $7,300. For weeks worked in 2011, 2012, and 2013 the amount is $145. These wages must have been earned during a 52 week period that is called a base year.Base Year Period
Your regular base year period consists of 52 weeks that is determined by the date of your claim. The chart below shows what your regular base year period would be if you filed your claim any day between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013.
Federal income taxes and unemployment benefits:You may voluntarily choose to have 10% of your weekly unemployment benefits withheld and sent to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Note: Unemployment insurance benefits are subject to federal income taxes
Note: Once you begin full-time work, you are not eligible to continue receiving unemployment insurance benefits.
Note: You must report any wages you may have earned while getting unemployment insurance benefits for that week
Note: If you receive Unemployment Insurance benefits to which you were not entitled, you will be responsible for repaying the benefits that you received.
New Jersey Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits Estimator
Please call your local unemployment office for information.