New Jersey How To Apply For Disability Benefits In NJ

If you live in New Jersey and cannot work because of an injury or illness that is not work-related, you may be eligible to apply for disability benefits as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. One thing to keep in mind as you read through the information provided in this article is that disability benefits in NJ are for short-term disabilities.

When you have a disability expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death, you should speak to a disability lawyer at London Disability. You may be eligible to qualify for long-term disability through Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, which are disability programs available through the Social Security Administration. The disability lawyer will review your current situation and help you to apply for state and federal benefit programs.

Disability benefits in New Jersey

New Jersey law provides disability insurance coverage to employees in the state who meet eligibility requirements. If you are eligible, you can receive benefits for time off from work because of an illness, injury, or other disability that is not related to the work that you do. Pregnancy and childbirth are examples of “other disability” conditions that would be eligible for benefit payments in NJ.

Employers with at least one employee and a payroll of at least $1,000 must pay into a state fund that provides temporary disability insurance. As an alternative to covering their employees by participating in the state fund, employers may set up their own plan as long as it is approved by the state.

Maximum weekly benefits for 2022 are $993 per week. What you receive may be less depending on your earnings. Claimants can receive 85% of their average weekly earnings up to the weekly maximum benefit amount of $993.

Who is Eligible for Disability Benefits in New Jersey?

If you work in NJ for an employer who must offer temporary disability insurance benefits to workers, then you may be eligible for disability benefits provided that you earned at least $240 a week for more than 20 weeks, or you must have annual earnings of at least $12,000 during your base year.

The base year is determined from the five quarters of employment prior to the onset of your disability with the first four of them being the base year. For example, if you apply for disability benefits in November 2022, your base year for earnings is July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Weekly benefits that you receive and the total amount that will be paid to you are calculated based on what you earned during the base period.

You must be under the care of a physician or other health care provider within 10 days of the disability onset date. The medical professional must certify that you are disabled and unable to work. Once you are approved to receive disability benefits, the state has the right to periodically request proof from the medical provider that you remain under the provider’s care and continue to be unable to work because of a disability.

Although you are under the care of your own medical provider, the state reserves the right to arrange for an examination by an independent medical professional. If you refuse to schedule the exam or fail to keep the appointment, it may affect your eligibility or continued eligibility for benefits.

How to Apply Online for Disability Benefits in New Jersey?

You apply for disability in NJ by completing an online application. An immediate confirmation of the application will be given to you as soon as you submit it, but it will take longer before a decision is made. The length of time it takes for a decision can be delayed because of omissions in the application or because of delays in getting information from your medical provider.

If you do not want to apply online, you have the option to complete a paper application that you must download and print it at the website for the Division of Temporary Disability Insurance, which is the same place to go for online applications. Upon complication of the paper application, mail it to the address displayed at the top of the first page of the application.

You have the right to appeal any decision made in regard to your claim for disability benefits. If you receive a notice about a denial of benefits or other adverse action taken with regard to your claim for NJ disability, contact a disability benefits lawyer at London Disability.

Learn More About Disability Benefits

A disability benefits lawyer from London Disability is your best source for reliable information about state and federal disability benefits. Whether you need assistance about how to apply for disability benefits in NJ for a short-term disability or have a medical condition causing a long-term disability that could be eligible for Social Security disability, our disability advocates and lawyers are eager to help you. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim review.