Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Work Location FAQs
Not sure where you should apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits because you live in New Jersey but worked out of state, or worked in New Jersey but live out of state? Here's what you need to know.
In general, you must have physically worked in New Jersey in the past 18 months to receive unemployment insurance in New Jersey. Not everyone who applies will be approved.
If you live in New Jersey, but physically worked in another state, apply in that other state.
Apply for unemployment insurance in New Jersey.
If you live in New Jersey but commuted to work in New York, Pennsylvania, or Delaware, apply in the state where you worked:
- New York State's Department of Labor
- Pennsylvania's Office of Unemployment Compensation
- Delaware's Division of Unemployment Insurance
If you live in New Jersey but all your prior employment occurred in a different state, you must file for Unemployment Insurance benefits with that state.
No. Where you should apply depends on several factors. In general, you should apply in the state where you were physically located for most of your work. You may apply in any state you worked in over the last 18 months, and different states have different weekly benefit amounts.
Do not apply in more than one state. If you apply in New Jersey and it is determined that you should have applied in another state, you will be notified that you need to apply in that state.
If you move out of New Jersey while collecting unemployment insurance benefits, you must immediately call us at 732-761-2020 to report the address change.
