What Are the New Jersey Programs?
- New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) was signed into law in 2008, extending the benefits of New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefits Insurance.
- With few exceptions, all employers are required to participate in the state program (by default) or choose to opt out of the state program via a state-approved private plan.
How Can It Be Used?
For NJ FLI, employees can:
- Welcome a new child (through birth, surrogate, adoption or foster placement).
- Care for a seriously ill family member - or anyone related by blood or who is the equivalent of a family member.
- Tend to their own medical, legal and other needs or those of a family member who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence.
- Quarantine and/or be treated for communicable diseases in certain circumstances.
For NJ TDB, employees can:
- Recover from their own non-work-related injury or illness under TDB.
- Quarantine and/or be treated for communicable diseases in certain circumstances.
How Is It Funded?
Family Leave Insurance - State Plan
- The state program is funded by employee payroll deductions. Employers do not contribute to the state program.
Temporary Disability Benefits – State Plan
- The state program is funded by employers and employees.
Family Leave Insurance and Temporary Disability Benefits - Private Plans
- Can be funded the same as the State Plan, but employers can choose to pay for all or part of their employees’ share.
Who Can Use It?
To use the state FLI and TDB programs, employees:
- Need to have paid into the program through their employer and must meet minimum earnings requirements.
- Are required to have worked at least 20 weeks (making at least $260 a week in 2023 or $283 in 2024), or
- Must have earned (at least $13,000 in 2023 or at least $14,200 in 2024) in the base year prior to the first day of Temporary Disability Leave or Paid Family Leave.
- Private plans can use the eligibility requirement or choose to waive it.