Unemployment After Being Fired in New Jersey
Whether you can collect unemployment in New Jersey after being fired, what counts as misconduct, and how to appeal a denial.
Short answer: If you were fired or suspended for misconduct, you are disqualified for the week of the firing or suspension and the next five weeks. New Jersey Division of Unemployment Insurance, Quit or fired
| If you were fired | If you were fired or suspended for misconduct, you are disqualified for the week of the firing or suspension and the next five weeks. If the firing was for gross misconduct (conduct serious enough to be a first-, second-, third- or fourth-degree crime), the disqualification is indefinite: to remove it, you must work in covered employment for at least eight weeks, earn at least 10 times your weekly benefit rate, and then lose that job through no fault of your own; wages from the employer that fired you cannot be used. An exception may apply if the separation was related to domestic violence. |
|---|---|
| Appealing a denial | A determination becomes final unless a written appeal is filed within 21 calendar days after it is mailed (a deadline on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day). Appeal online or by letter to the New Jersey Department of Labor Appeal Tribunal, PO Box 907, with your name, Social Security number, phone, address and reasons. Keep certifying weekly while you wait for the hearing. |
Where to get help in New Jersey
More New Jersey unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your New Jersey Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in New Jersey
- Unemployment After Quitting in New Jersey
- How Much Unemployment Pays in New Jersey
- How to File for Unemployment in New Jersey
- All New Jersey unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
Can you get unemployment if you were fired in New Jersey?
If you were fired or suspended for misconduct, you are disqualified for the week of the firing or suspension and the next five weeks. If the firing was for gross misconduct (conduct serious enough to be a first-, second-, third- or fourth-degree crime), the disqualification is indefinite: to remove it, you must work in covered employment for at least eight weeks, earn at least 10 times your weekly benefit rate, and then lose that job through no fault of your own; wages from the employer that fired you cannot be used. An exception may apply if the separation was related to domestic violence.
How do I appeal an unemployment denial in New Jersey?
A determination becomes final unless a written appeal is filed within 21 calendar days after it is mailed (a deadline on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day). Appeal online or by letter to the New Jersey Department of Labor Appeal Tribunal, PO Box 907, with your name, Social Security number, phone, address and reasons. Keep certifying weekly while you wait for the hearing.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.