Unemployment Benefits in NJ

[tbrenk]

Anyone have any very recent experience filing a claim in NJ? Have some questions that I can't get answered on-line and every time we call the numbers to try and person on the phone, it's says there is an unusual call volume and can't get through

 

[eliza61]

unfortunately no. one of my neighbors did and was complaining about the very same issues.

Good luck.

 

[mcorbo]

I had filed last year, what kind of questions do you have?

 

[tbrenk]

It's for my husband. He filed on-line on Sunday, 2/1. As of today, there is no follow up from them in an email to say the claim was accepted, when benefits will start, etc. There is a claim status on the website, but doesn't give any type of that information. He tried calling and each time gets the messages that there is the unusual call volume.

At this point, would like to know how long it takes for the determination and when the benefit checks would begin.

 

[mcorbo]

We never got anything via email, it was all via postal mail. It's all a very confusing process. The first thing is they have to send a form to your previous employer to verify your weekly salary for the last few months. This will be used to determine your benefit amount. Then you will get a letter with that amount on it and claim instructions. You may or my not have to report in person or for a phone interview. The first letter you receive will let you know how to proceed next. There is a 2 week waiting period before you will receive any payment. So do no expect anything before that 2 weeks. In our case it took almost 2 months from the filing date until the first direct deposit because a phone interview needed to be followed up by an in person interview.

From the NJ website.
Your date of claim is the Sunday of the week in which you filed your initial claim. The first time you claim benefits will be on a Wednesday, 17 days after your date of claim.


Make sure you know when you need to file each period on line (NJUIFILE.NET). It will be on a Tuesday or a Monday. Even if your are not yet receiving benefits, you keep making claims. In our case that first deposit was for 8 weeks of benefits.

 

[tbrenk]

Thanks...they should explain that on the site LOL We will keep an eye out for something to come in the mail and go from there. Thanks!