File your weekly claim through the New Jersey Department of Labor website, not by phone or mail
New Jersey requires you to file your weekly unemployment claim online through the state's MyUnemployment portal. You cannot file by phone, mail, or in person — the state processes claims only through this system. You must file every week you want to receive benefits, and you file for the week that just ended, not the week coming up.
The portal opens for filing on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and closes on Friday at midnight. Most people file early in the week to avoid the rush. If you miss the Friday important date, you lose that week's payment and cannot file it late — the state does not backdate weekly claims.
You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about any work you did that week. If you worked even a few hours, you must report it; the state reduces your benefit by a portion of what you earned.
Key Takeaways
- File every week through MyUnemployment.nj.gov using your username and password, even if you did not work that week.
- The filing window opens Sunday at 12:01 a.m. and closes Friday at midnight; claims filed after Friday midnight are not accepted.
- Report all work and earnings for the week, including part-time or gig work, because the state reduces your weekly benefit by a percentage of what you earned.
- Your weekly benefit amount is set when your claim is approved and does not change week to week unless you report a significant change in your situation.
- If you cannot access the portal or have a technical problem, contact the New Jersey Department of Labor by phone during business hours rather than waiting.
Creating and logging into your MyUnemployment account
Before you can file a weekly claim, you need a MyUnemployment account. If you already filed an initial claim for unemployment benefits, you may already have one. Go to MyUnemployment.nj.gov and click "Sign In" to check.
If you do not have an account, click "Create Account" and enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and email address. The state will send you a temporary password. Log in, change your password to something you choose, and set up security questions. Write down your username and password somewhere safe — you will use this every week.
If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. The state will email you a reset link. If you forget your username, call the New Jersey Department of Labor at 609-292-7000 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and they can tell you what it is.
What information you need to file each week
When you log in to file your weekly claim, the portal will ask you a series of yes-or-no questions about the week that just ended. Have the following information ready before you start: the dates of the week you are filing for (the portal shows these), any days you worked, the name and address of each employer you worked for that week, the hours you worked each day, and the gross pay you earned.
The state also asks whether you looked for work that week, whether you turned down any job offers, whether you received any severance or vacation pay, and whether you had any other income. Answer honestly — the state cross-checks these answers against employer records and tax documents, and false answers can result in overpayment notices or disqualification.
If you worked part-time or did gig work (delivery, rideshare, freelance), report those hours and earnings too. Many people think gig work does not count, but it does. The state reduces your weekly benefit by a percentage of what you earned, so reporting it correctly matters for your payment amount.
How the state calculates your weekly payment after you file
Your weekly benefit amount is determined when your initial claim is approved, based on your earnings in the year before you lost your job. This amount stays the same every week unless you report a major change — like returning to full-time work or receiving a lump-sum payment.
If you worked during the week, the state reduces your benefit. New Jersey uses a formula: they subtract 20 percent of your gross weekly earnings from your weekly benefit amount. For example, if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earned $100 that week, the state pays you $400 minus $20 (20 percent of $100), which is $380.
If your earnings for the week are high enough, your benefit for that week drops to zero. This is called "working off your benefit." You still file the claim that week, but you receive no payment. You remain on unemployment and can continue filing the following week.
When you will receive your payment after filing
After you file your weekly claim, the state processes it within two to three business days. Once approved, the payment is deposited into the account you listed when you filed your initial claim — either a bank account or a debit card issued by the state.
If you chose direct deposit to a bank account, the money usually arrives within one business day of approval. If you are using the state-issued debit card (called the Unemployment Insurance Debit Card), the deposit happens the same day or the next business day.
Do not expect payment on the same day you file. File early in the week so that if there is a problem, you have time to contact the Department of Labor before Friday's important date. If you file on Friday and there is an error, you may not be able to fix it in time.
What to do if you cannot access the portal or have a technical problem
If you cannot log in, the portal is down, or you get an error message when you try to file, contact the New Jersey Department of Labor when ready. Do not wait until Friday. Call 609-292-7000 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Have your username and the error message ready when you call.
If the portal is down for maintenance, the state usually posts a notice on the MyUnemployment homepage. Check there first. If you cannot reach anyone by phone, try again the next day — the lines are busiest early in the week.
If you miss the Friday important date because of a technical problem that was the state's fault, document it — take a screenshot of the error message and note the date and time. Call the Department of Labor the following Monday and explain what happened. The state sometimes makes exceptions for system outages, but you have to report it right away.
Changes you must report while filing your weekly claim
Some changes to your situation must be reported when ready, either through the weekly claim form or by calling the Department of Labor. These include: returning to full-time work, receiving severance or vacation pay, starting a new job, receiving workers' compensation or disability benefits, or moving to a different address.
Other changes — like a change in your phone number or email — can wait until you file your next weekly claim. But do not delay reporting work or income. The state matches unemployment records against wage reports from employers, and if you do not report work that shows up on an employer's records, the state will send you an overpayment notice.
If you are unsure whether something needs to be reported, report it. It is better to over-report than to under-report. The weekly claim form has a section for "other income" or "other changes" — use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss the Friday midnight important date?
Your claim for that week is not accepted, and you do not receive payment for that week. The state does not allow late filings or makeups. If you know you will be unavailable Friday, file earlier in the week. If you miss the important date by accident, you lose that week's benefit permanently.
Can I file my weekly claim on my phone?
Yes. MyUnemployment.nj.gov works on phones and tablets. The form is the same whether you use a computer or phone. Make sure you have all your work and earnings information ready before you start, because the form times out if you leave it open too long without submitting.
What if I worked for multiple employers in one week?
Report each employer separately in the weekly claim form. List the employer name, address, hours worked, and gross pay for each one. The state adds up all your earnings for the week and applies the 20 percent reduction to the total.
Do I have to file a weekly claim if I did not work that week?
Yes. You must file every week you want to receive benefits, even if you did not work at all. If you do not file, you do not receive payment that week, and you may lose your benefits entirely if you miss too many weeks in a row.
What if the state says I owe money back after I file?
This is an overpayment notice, usually because you did not report work or income correctly. Contact the Department of Labor right away to understand why. You can request a hearing to dispute it, but you must act quickly — the state has strict important date for appeals.