Union County to provide assistance to those laid off from Sam’s Club

Information below is provided by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development 

WARNING – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development does not charge a fee to file an unemployment insurance claim.  Anyone who visits a website that charges a fee for processing an unemployment claim should immediately exit that site before providing any confidential information.

No benefits can be paid to you for any week before you actually file your unemployment claim.  You should always file as soon as possible after you become unemployed.  To file a claim or reopen an existing claim online you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Worked only in New Jersey in the last 18 months.
• Worked in New Jersey and another state in the last 18 months.
• Worked for the Federal government and in New Jersey in the last 18 months.
• Served in the military in the last 18 months and are physically present in New Jersey.
• Did not work as a maritime employee in the last 18 months.
• Do not live outside of the United States.

If you do not meet the requirements above, you must file your claim by telephone.  For more information see “File a Claim by Telephone” below.

To file your claim online visit www.njuifile.net.  Be advised that if your computer is idle for 30 minutes or more, your session will “time out” and all of your claim information will be lost.  If you exit for any reason before completing the application, all of your information will be lost.

To file your claim, please have the following available:

• Social Security Number.
• Alien Registration Number (if you are not a US citizen).
• Banking information (if you want your benefits directly deposited into your bank account).
• Pension information (if you are receiving any pension or 401k).
• Amount and duration of any separation pay you may be receiving.
• Recall date (if you expect to be recalled to your job).
• Union hiring hall information, including local number and address (if you get work through a union).
• Military Form DD-214 (if you were in the military in the last 18 months).

For each employer that you worked for in the last 18 months, have the following information available:

• Complete name and address of employer.
• Employer’s telephone number.
• Your occupation with that employer.
• Beginning and ending dates of employment.
• Reason for separation.

Please note that www.njuifile.net is used for filing a unemployment claim, reopening an existing claim or claiming weekly benefits.  It cannot be used to contact the agency.  If you have a question about your claim or about unemployment insurance, click here to contact.

Claims may be filed online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.njuifile.net.  It’s quick, easy and secure.

If you are unable to apply online, you may file a claim or reopen an existing claim by calling a Reemployment Call Center.  The Reemployment Call Centers are open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Your claim will be dated the Sunday of the week in which you call.  Make sure you call during the week you want your claim to begin.  Unemployment Insurance week runs Sunday to Saturday.

IMPORTANT:  All phone calls are routed to the next available agent at any of our Reemployment Call Centers regardless of the phone number you call.  The local phone numbers are provided as a courtesy to our customers who incur additional charges for long-distance calls.   If you are waiting to speak with an agent, you will not move ahead in line by calling one of the other phone numbers.   If you hang up and call a different number, you will forfeit your place and will be moved to the end of the line.

Before you call a Reemployment Call Center, have the following information available:

• Social Security Number.
• Alien Registration Number (if you are not a US citizen).
• Pension information (if you are receiving any pension or 401k).
• Amount and duration of any separation pay you may be receiving.
• Recall date (if you expect to be recalled to your job).
• Union hiring hall information, including local number and address (if you get work through a union).
• Military Form DD-214 (if you were in the military in the last 18 months).
• Form SF-8 or SF-50 (if you were a federal employee).

For each employer that you worked for in the last 18 months, have the following information available:

• Complete name and address of employer.
• Employer’s telephone number.
• Your occupation with that employer.
• Beginning and ending dates of employment.
• Reason for separation.

Be sure to notify the agent if you want 10% federal income tax withheld from your benefits. 

After you apply for unemployment benefits, online or by phone, you will receive several different pieces of mail from us. Most likely, the mailings will come on different days so don’t worry if you don’t receive everything at once.

NOTE:  You may not receive all of the documents listed below, depending on the circumstances of your claim. 

Below is a list of the mailings you may receive:

• Unemployment Insurance Instructions and Appointment Notice – This form contains instructions on how and when to claim your benefits.  It also includes a list of any scheduled appointments.
• Notice to Claimant of Benefit Determination – If you have had any employment in New Jersey during the period of time used to calculate your benefits, you will receive this form. It will show you the amount of money you may collect each week (Weekly Benefit Rate) and the total amount of money you may be entitled to collect during the one-year period that the claim is in effect (Maximum Benefit Amount). 
  This notice will also have a listing of employers you worked for, the base weeks you worked, and the wages that were paid to you during the period used to determine your benefits. You should review the information contained on this form; and if the base weeks or wages are wrong or if employers are missing, you should file an appeal. Instructions for filing an appeal are on the form.
• Notice of Invalid Claim – If you have had no employment in New Jersey during the base year period or if your unemployment claim is determined invalid for some other reason , you will receive this form. The notice will list the reason your unemployment claim is invalid. If you disagree with the determination, you should file an appeal. Instructions for filing an appeal are on the form.
• Bank of America Debit Card – If you elect not to have your Unemployment Insurance benefits directly deposited into an account, you will be mailed a Bank of America prepaid debit card.  Bank of America will mail you the card in a plain, unmarked envelope, 7-10 days after you file your initial claim.  The card is good for 4 years.  You should keep the card for 4 years, even if you return to work or your claim expires.  If you reopen or file a new claim within 4 years, you will use the same card for these claims.
  NOTE:  If more than 28 days have passed since you last claimed benefits, you will automatically be mailed a prepaid Bank of America debit card.
• Identity Proofing Instructions – If you fail or elect not to participate in identity proofing, you will be mailed instructions to report, in person, to a One-Stop Career Center and provide acceptable documentation to prove your identity.  A list of acceptable documentation are listed on the identity proofing instructions form.  
  NOTE:  If you live out of state, you may be allowed to fax the documentation to prove your identity.  Instructions will be mailed to you explaining how to prove your identity.