How to file in New Jersey, step by step
- Gather your documents. New Jersey asks for the items in the checklist below.
- File your claim online at myunemployment.nj.gov or by phone (numbers and hours).
- Meet the work search rule. Actively look for work every week and keep your contacts in case the agency asks. No fixed weekly number in the source we checked.
- Request benefits for each week you are unemployed, as your claim instructions say. See how weekly claims work.
- Answer any reemployment appointment. Some claimants are selected for a RESEA session at a job center.
Documents New Jersey asks for
- SSN; immigration record if not a citizen; NJ driver's license or ID
- Pension/401(k) details, amount and length of severance pay, expected return-to-work date
- Union and local; DD-214 if military in the last 18 months; SF-8/SF-50 if federal; account and routing number for deposit
- Each employer in the last 18 months: full name, address, phone, occupation, dates and reason for separation
Source: nj.gov. Lists can be partial; follow the instructions in your claim.
How much New Jersey pays and for how long
All statesMaximum from the U.S. DOL table effective July 2026. The state calculates your weekly amount from your past wages when you file. How long unemployment lasts
New Jersey unemployment phone
DetailsNorth NJ: 201-601-4100; Central NJ: 732-761-2020; South NJ: 856-507-2340; out-of-state claims: 1-888-795-6672
Hours: Reemployment call centers: weekdays 8:00 AM–3:30 PM, except holidays.
Where to log in
The official place to start a claim or reach your account is myunemployment.nj.gov, run by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Only enter your Social Security number or PIN on the official state site. This guide is independent and cannot see or change your claim.
If your claim is denied
Federal law requires every state to offer a fair hearing before an impartial tribunal to anyone whose unemployment claim is denied (Social Security Act, sec. 303(a)(3)). The determination letter from New Jersey tells you the deadline and how to file the appeal. How unemployment appeals work.
New Jersey job centers that help with unemployment
All 23Participating One-Stop Career Centers offer in-person unemployment help by appointment only; walk-ins are for career services.
Camden One-Stop Career Center - Cherry Hill
101 Woodcrest Road, Suite 127, Cherry Hill
Essex One-Stop Career Center - East Orange
50 South Clinton Street, 2nd Floor, East Orange
Hunterdon One-Stop Career Center - Flemington
8 Bartles Corner Road, Flemington
Bergen One-Stop Career Center - Hackensack
60 State Street, Floor 2, Hackensack
Hudson One-Stop Career Center - Jersey City
438 Summit Avenue, 1st Floor, Jersey City
Monmouth One-Stop Career Center - Neptune
60 Taylor Avenue North, Neptune
Middlesex One-Stop Career Center - New Brunswick
550 Jersey Avenue, New Brunswick
Essex One-Stop Career Center - Newark
990 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard, Newark
Passaic One-Stop Career Center - Passaic
25 Howe Avenue, Passaic
Passaic One-Stop Career Center - Paterson
200 Memorial Drive, 1st Floor, Paterson
Salem One-Stop Career Center - Penns Grove
147 South Virginia Avenue, Penns Grove
Middlesex One-Stop Career Center - Perth Amboy
161 New Brunswick Avenue, Suite 300, Floor 3, Perth Amboy
New Jersey unemployment questions
How do I file for unemployment in New Jersey?
Online on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website or by phone at North NJ: 201-601-4100; Central NJ: 732-761-2020; South NJ: 856-507-2340; out-of-state claims: 1-888-795-6672. Have your Social Security number and your employers from the last 18 months ready.
What is the New Jersey unemployment phone number?
North NJ: 201-601-4100; Central NJ: 732-761-2020; South NJ: 856-507-2340; out-of-state claims: 1-888-795-6672. Hours: Reemployment call centers: weekdays 8:00 AM–3:30 PM, except holidays.
How much is unemployment in New Jersey?
Up to $905 a week. Your own amount depends on your past wages.
How long does unemployment last in New Jersey?
Up to 26 weeks; the federal table lists a range of 20-26 weeks depending on your situation. Your weeks are set when the state reviews your claim.
Where do I log in to New Jersey unemployment?
Use the official site (myunemployment.nj.gov) to start a claim or reach your account. We do not handle logins or claims.
What if my New Jersey unemployment claim is denied?
Federal law requires every state to give claimants whose claims are denied the chance of a fair hearing before an impartial tribunal. Your determination letter explains how and by when to appeal.
Related guides
Sources
Claim website: dol.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
Claims phone: dol.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
Documents: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
Work search: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
In-person policy: nj.gov, checked October 30, 2026.
Weekly maximum: oui.doleta.gov (dated July 2026), checked October 30, 2026.
Maximum weeks: oui.doleta.gov (dated July 2026), checked October 30, 2026.
Right to a fair hearing: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(3), checked October 31, 2026.