New Jersey - How Do I Extend Temporary Disability Insurance Benefits?

As a worker in New Jersey (NJ), you need to plan for any eventuality that may leave you unable to work. If you have to stop working due to a physical or mental health condition or any disability unrelated to your work, the consequences may be disastrous in the form of pending medical bills and no source of income. In such a scenario, Temporary Disability Insurance benefits to New Jersey workers may offer some relief. However, you must know how to extend Temporary Disability Insurance benefits in New Jersey as the Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance may ask you to provide sufficient proof before continuing disability benefits.

What is Temporary Disability Insurance?

It is a state program that provides cash benefits to New Jersey workers who have to stop working because of a physical or mental health condition or any other disability not related to their work. Your healthcare provider certifies for how long you need to recover from your current medical condition, not exceeding 26 weeks.

Most employers in New Jersey are required to get a Temporary Disability Insurance plan for their employees. Employers have the freedom to choose an insurance plan offered by the state or by a private insurance company. You can ask the employer about the coverage that you have. If you are covered by the state plan, you can apply for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits through the Division of Temporary Disability and Family Insurance. But if you are covered by private insurance, your employer would be able to guide you through the application process.

Qualification Criteria for State Temporary Disability Insurance Benefits

To validly claim Temporary Disability Insurance benefits, you need to have paid sufficiently into the state program through the income earned at your employment and meet the minimum earnings requirement.

Exemptions to the qualification criteria include:

• Federal government employees
• Out-of-State employees
• Optional for local government, such as school district employees
• Faith-based organizations
• Workers who are not technically employees, like independent contractors working on a contract for service

If your employer is covered by Temporary Disability Insurance, payroll contributions would have been set up for you. However, if you think you are covered under the program, but payroll contributions have not been set up for you, the Division of Temporary Disability and Family Insurance still encourages you to apply as the contributions may have been omitted due to an error. The Division also encourages you to apply if you became unemployed recently, because you may still be eligible for benefits under the program.

How Much Should I Earn To Qualify?

Your employer is required to report your wages to the state every calendar quarter. When the Division of Temporary Disability and Family Insurance reviews your claim for benefits under the program, it considers your earnings over the five quarters immediately preceding the week in which you became disabled. The first four quarters of this period form the base year. For winning Temporary Disability Insurance benefits in 2023, you must have an earnings record of a minimum of $260 per week or combined earnings of $13,000 in the base year.

The wages that you earn in your base year are also used to determine the amount of your weekly benefits, and the total Temporary Disability Insurance benefits you can receive in your lifetime.

How Do I Extend Temporary Disability In New Jersey

Winning Temporary Disability Insurance benefits may come as a major relief to you if you are in financial distress. However, even after you start receiving cash benefits under the program, the Division of Temporary Disability and Family Insurance may ask you for proof of continuing disability to keep receiving the benefits you need and deserve.

The information that you must submit in order to extend Temporary Disability Insurance benefits in New Jersey is provided in a letter known as the Request to Claimant for Continued Claim Information, or P-30 before you receive your last mandated benefit amount.

To file for a Temporary Disability Insurance extension in NJ, you only must follow the process when you filed first. After you log in to your account on the government website, you will be redirected to a page with your unique Online Form ID along with the instructions for your medical professional to certify your continuing medical condition online.

Once the Division of Temporary Disability and Family Insurance receives the information you provided, it will review your request for an extension of the claim.

Speak With an Experienced NJ Temporary Disability Insurance Benefits

If you are no longer able to work because of physical or mental health impairment(s), you must consider applying for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits without any delay. Speaking with an experienced NJ Temporary Disability Insurance benefits lawyer may help you understand your eligibility to win or extend cash benefits under the program. Contact London Disability today for a free consultation and case review.