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NJ Boosts Family Leave Insurance and Disability Benefits for Workers in 2026
New Jersey increases maximum weekly benefits for unemployment, disability, and family leave insurance, effective January 1, 2026.
Key Points
- New Jersey increases maximum weekly benefits for unemployment, disability, and family leave insurance, effective January 1, 2026.
- Maximum weekly payouts will rise to $905 for unemployment and $1,119 for disability, reflecting a 3.4% growth in the state's average weekly wage.
- The taxable wage base also increases to fund the new rates, rising to around $45,000 for unemployment and $171,100 for disability and family leave.
New Jersey is increasing the maximum weekly payouts for its core worker safety net programs in 2026, a formula-based adjustment tied to rising statewide wages. The changes, announced by the state's Department of Labor and Workforce Development, affect unemployment, disability, family leave, and workers' compensation starting January 1.
The fine print: The trade-off for higher benefits is a higher taxable wage base. The new figures, which were first reported by Bloomberg Tax, set the unemployment wage base at around $45,000, while the threshold for Temporary Disability and Family Leave insurance will rise to $171,100.
The new maximum weekly benefits will see a notable increase across the board.
Unemployment Insurance: $905 (up from $875)
Temporary Disability & Family Leave: $1,119 (up from $1,081)
Workers’ Compensation: $1,199 (up from $1,159)
These increases aren't arbitrary but are tied directly to a 3.4% growth in New Jersey's statewide average weekly wage in 2024. The bar for qualifying is also rising, with a new earnings requirement benchmarked against the state's minimum wage, which is set to hit nearly $16 per hour on the same day. Beyond the rate changes, workers can get a full rundown of their rights and responsibilities under the unemployment system.
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