File A Claim Home

This site allows individuals with New Jersey employment to file a new claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits or reopen an existing Unemployment Insurance claim over the Internet. You may not use this application for the following reasons:

• All of your work was not in New Jersey in the past 18 months
• You worked for the federal government in the past 18 months
• You served in the military in the past 18 months
• You worked as a maritime employee in the past 18 months
• You do not reside in the United States
• Reopen or file an Extended Benefit Claim

In order to process your claim in a timely manner, we strongly recommend that you enter your New Jersey driver's license number or Non-Driver Photo Identification Card number, if you have one. Although this is not a requirement for filing a claim, it may expedite the processing of your claim. You should also have the following available:

• Pencil/pen and paper.
• Your Social Security Number.
• If you are not a citizen, you will need your Alien Registration Documentation issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This includes your alien registration type and number, country of origin, and your Employment Authorization Card or Permanent Resident Card if authorized to work in the United States.
• If you wish to have your benefits directly deposited to your bank, your bank information.
• Employer information on all employer(s) in the last 18 months including: Name, address, telephone number, beginning and end dates of employment, and reason for separation.

Please be advised that if your computer is idle for 30 minutes or more, your session will "time out" and all of your claim information will be lost. If you exit for any reason before completing the application, all of your information will be lost.

The information collected as a result of your application for unemployment compensation is private data and cannot be released except when authorized by state or federal law, by a court order, or with your permission. The information you or your employer(s) provide may be used for any New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development business and may be used to provide an income and eligibility verification between State Agencies administering programs under a plan approved under Title I, X, XIV, XVI of the Social Security Act as indicated under Section 1137 (a)(6) of the Social Security Act. It may be shared with other state or federal agencies that determine your eligibility for Medicaid, Food Stamps, Social Security, or other state or federal benefits and programs. It may also be shared with other Federal Agencies and the state Departments. Your Social Security Number will be validated with the Social Security Administration.