New, Easy-to-Use Online Unemployment Insurance Application Launched

Federal-State Partnership Modernizes Unemployment Benefits Delivery

TRENTON – In a significant step towards improving the unemployment benefits system, Governor Phil Murphy, USDOL Acting Secretary Julie A. Su, NJDOL Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, and NJ State Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole announced the launch of a revamped online Unemployment Insurance (UI) application.

The initiative, part of the 2021 USDOL’s Claimant Experience Pilot involving New Jersey and Arkansas, aims to enhance the federal unemployment insurance system. The new application, rolled out fully by April 11, 2024, is designed to improve accessibility and user experience.

NJDOL, in collaboration with the NJ Office of Innovation and the NJ Office of Information Technology, developed the application through extensive user testing. Key features of the new system include:

• Ability to save and pause the application.
• Availability in English and Spanish.
• Enhanced accessibility for assistive devices.
• Mobile-friendly format for phones, tablets, and computers.
• Simplified and revised questions.
• Reduction of 19% of questions for quicker completion.
• New landing page with relevant claimant information.

This new UI application promises to save applicants significant time in filing claims and receiving benefits. Following the pilot’s success, New Jersey remains committed to ongoing UI modernization efforts.

For more information, visit myunemployment.nj.gov and myleavebenefits.nj.gov.