Have a medical issue that you know will keep you off the job for more than a year? Or maybe you’re taking on caretaker duties for a sick relative who can no longer manage daily life without additional help. For many people who cannot work, New Jersey disability and family leave benefits provide a financial lifeline. However, the difference between federal and state-based programs can be significant, and confusing to understand. Since there are 3 different ways to get New Jersey disability benefits, we’ve created this handy overview. You’ll learn about eligibility requirements, benefit amounts, and much more regarding state and federal disability insurance programs below.
Key Takeaways About New Jersey Disability From the State’s TDI Program
The Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance administers the state’s two short-term disability programs. New Jersey’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program may provide cash benefits to help get you through this difficult time:
- These benefits are available for those who cannot work due a non-work-related injury or illness.
- Your doctor must certify how long you’ll need to recover from your medical condition.
- The TDI program pays benefits for no more than 26 weeks total.
Claimants are paid 85% of their average weekly wage, up to the maximum weekly benefit rate set for that calendar year. In 2026, the maximum weekly benefit rate for NJ TDI payments is $1,119.
Who Pays for This Benefit?
Insurance providers pay out the benefits in New Jersey. Most employers in New Jersey are required to have Temporary Disability Insurance for their employees. Both New Jersey workers and employers contribute to the cost of the insurance premiums that fund the temporary disability program.
Workers like yourself automatically contribute through deductions taken out of your paycheck.
Employers may choose an insurance plan offered by the state or by a private insurance company. Ask your employer which coverage you have, because it’s relevant to how you’ll need to apply for benefits.
TIP: If you are covered by the state plan, apply for TDI benefits online. If you are covered by a private insurance company, then your employer will tell you how to file a claim.
Who is Eligible for the TDI Program’s New Jersey Disability Benefits?
To qualify for TDI in New Jersey in 2026, you must have worked at least 20 weeks. Also, you had to earn at least $310 weekly, or have earned a combined total of $15,500 in the base year.
To receive New Jersey TDI benefits, you must have paid into the program through employment and meet minimum gross earnings requirements. TDI is available to most New Jersey workers.
However, the following people are exempt from receiving TDI payments:
- Federal employees
- Some local government workers, such as school district employees
- Out-of-state employees
- Faith-based organization workers
- Workers that are not technically employees (such as independent contractors)
If you believe you are covered under the program but payroll contributions have not been made, you are still encouraged to apply as it may have been an error. If you became unemployed recently and have a need for TDI, you still may qualify for benefits.
How to Apply for Short-Term New Jersey Disability Benefits
- Create an online account on New Jersey state’s website.
- Read and begin the application.
- Print instruction forms and then give them to your healthcare provider.
- Receive your debit card by mail. Don’t use it yet; it has no funds when you first receive it.
- Await your approval decision.
- The state of New Jersey will fund your card two days after approving your application.
- Visit the state’s website to check your claim.
How Long Does NJ Temporary Disability Take?
In most cases, you’ll wait 2-6 weeks for a response after you submit your application. Depending on how serious your situation is, you could receive your first payment within a month’s time on your debit card.
Need to follow up on your application for temporary New Jersey disability benefits? Contact the Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance program directly:
- Call 609-292-7060 Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm
- TTY/TDD services number is 609-282-8319
Important: Be sure to file your TDI benefits application within 30 days of your first day off work. Any delay in starting your leave or filing your claim could make you ineligible for these payments.There Are Two More Programs for New Jersey Disability Payments
Additional federal benefit programs run by the Social Security Administration — SSI and SSDI — may pay you benefits. This only applies if your doctor believes you cannot work for at least one year due to a non-work-related injury or illness.
Program #1: Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI
You may qualify for SSDI only if you worked 5 in the last 10 years full-time at a job where you paid FICA payroll taxes. You are eligible for benefits if a doctor says your condition will last at least 12 months or result in death. If your condition improves enough for you to work again in less than 12 months, you cannot qualify.
Some people who don’t get SSDI are service-industry workers, union members, and federal or state employees. If you stopped working more than 5 years ago, you also won’t qualify for SSDI. That’s because your coverage lapses once you stop working for 60 continuous months.
- You must be 18-66 to get SSDI benefits.
- If you already get some regular Social Security payments or retired, you also cannot qualify for SSDI.
It takes the SSA 3-5 months to review every SSDI claim. There’s also a required 5-month waiting period before you can get benefits. Thus, we recommend filing for state New Jersey TDI benefits first. The SSA approves 1 in 5 — or 20% — first-time SSDI claims for benefits. In fact, only 35% of all SSDI applicants eventually get benefits.
TIP: To improve your claim, get a New Jersey disability lawyer to help you file. They work on contingency, so you owe $0 until after claim approval.
The maximum amount for the SSDI program in 2026 equals $4,152 per month. However, the average monthly SSDI benefit for disabled workers nationwide is $1,630. The SSA figures out your specific benefit amount using your highest average wage earnings over a 35-year period. The SSA re-checks your disability status every 3, 5, or 7 years until you turn 67 years old. Then, SSDI automatically changes over into Social Security retirement payments.
Finally, if approved, you’ll qualify for Medicare health coverage after 24 months. The SSA counts down to that date starting the same month you receive your first SSDI payment.
Program #2: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
SSI has the strictest eligibility requirements of any program. But if you didn’t work 5 of the last 10 years full-time or are 65+ with few assets, apply for SSI.
SSI pays up to a max of $994 per month per person or $1,491 per couple.
SSI medical eligibility requirements are the same as those for SSDI. But again, you must have very low income to qualify. It is also important to have very few financial assets. Your total household income cannot be more than $2,019 per month. You must also own less than $2,000 in financial assets and resources (or $3,000 for couples). There are some exceptions to the asset rule: the SSA won’t count your house, the land it sits on, one vehicle, your wedding ring, and some household goods.
If you’re in the process of selling property, speak to a New Jersey disability attorney before you apply for SSI. Lastly, when the SSA awards someone SSI benefits, they also become automatically eligible for Medicaid coverage. That coverage can begin the same month your first SSI payment goes through.
How to Apply for Federal Disability Benefits from the Social Security Administration
It’s always free to file your SSDI or SSI claim with the Social Security Administration. However, how you submit your application depends on the program you wish to apply for:
- SSDI claimants only may start the Social Security disability application process online at SSA.gov. However, you cannot file an SSI claim online anywhere at this time.
- Want expert help filing your claim that boosts your approval odds on your very first try? Then sign up for a free, no-obligation consultation through our website. Working with a Social Security lawyer costs $0 if the SSA doesn’t approve your claim. And if you’re successful, you only pay one small fee after your award goes through.
- You may also file your SSDI or SSI claim for benefits in person at your nearest SSA field office location.
Get Free Expert Help Qualifying for Disability Payments
Applying for New Jersey disability benefits can feel difficult at a time when you’re ill or disabled. If you need help, talk to an experienced Social Security attorney for free over the phone.
Having a lawyer file your paperwork makes the process much easier. All New Jersey disability lawyers work on contingency, so you’ll pay nothing for claim help now. They can also help you appeal a denied Social Security disability claim.
Want to speak with a nearby expert for free? Click the button below to start your free online benefits quiz now and see if you may qualify:
Get Your Free Benefits Evaluation
Social Security Office Locations in New Jersey
New Jersey SSA field offices are open Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm Eastern.
Important: Hearing impaired and deaf individuals can contact any NJ SSA field office using TTY (800) 325-0778 between 9am-4pm ET.
You should call and make an appointment instead of showing up without one to apply for New Jersey disability benefits:
Bricktown Social Security Office
2620 Yorktowne Boulevard
Brick, NJ 08723
Phone: (877) 405-5870
Fax: (833) 950-3595
Bridgeton Social Security Office
149 West Broad Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Phone: (866) 837-1235
Fax: (833) 950-2990
Bridgewater Social Security Office
245 US Highway 22 West, Suite 207
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Phone: (866) 446-6198
Fax: (833) 950-3264
Cherry Hill Social Security Office
6 Executive Campus, Suite 200
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Phone: (866) 931-2879
Fax: (833) 950-2974
Clifton Social Security Office
935 Allwood Road
Clifton, NJ 07012
Phone: (866) 964-0170
Fax: (833) 346-7157
East Orange Social Security Office
7 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 100
East Orange, NJ 07017
Phone: (866) 964-0030
Fax: (833) 950-3311
Eatontown Social Security Office
7 Meridian Road
Eatontown, NJ 07724
Phone: (877) 405-0475
Fax: (833) 950-3289
Egg Harbor Township Social Security Office
1350 Doughty Road
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Phone: (877) 714-0394
Fax: (833) 950-2986
Glassboro Social Security Office
830 Delsea Drive North
Glassboro, NJ 08028
Phone: (866) 883-5305
Fax: (833) 950-2668
Hackensack Social Security Office
401 Hackensack Avenue
Continental Plaza, 2nd Floor
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (866) 964-4680
Fax: (833) 950-3291
Hoboken Social Security Office
79 Hudson Street, 6th Floor
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Phone: (877) 505-4547
Fax: (833) 950-3268
Jersey City Social Security Office
325 West Side Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Phone: (877) 405-2884
Fax: (833) 950-2982
Mount Laurel Social Security Office
532 Fellowship Road, Suite E
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (866) 837-5002
Fax: (833) 950-3279
New Brunswick Social Security Office
550 Jersey Avenue, Suite 200
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (877) 803-6313
Fax: (833) 950-3315
Newark/Springfield Avenue Social Security Office
274 Springfield Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
Phone: (877) 402-0821
Fax: (833) 950-3317
Newark Social Security Office
970 Broad Street, Room 1035
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (877) 255-1507
Fax: (833) 950-2690
Newton Social Security Office
20 East Clinton Street
Newton, NJ 07860
Phone: (877) 575-5189
Fax: (833) 950-3283
Parsippany Social Security Office
2200 State Route 10 West, Suite 200
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Phone: (866) 331-7131
Fax: (833) 950-3313
Paterson Social Security Office
200 Federal Plaza, First Floor
Paterson, NJ 07505
Phone: (888) 397-9806
Fax: (833) 950-2976
Rio Grande Social Security Office
1046 Route 47 South
Rio Grande, NJ 08242
Phone: (877) 405-9194
Fax: (833) 950-2952
Toms River Social Security Office
190 St. Catherine Boulevard
Toms River, NJ 08755
Phone: (877) 255-1497
Fax: (833) 950-2670
Trenton Social Security Office
635 S. Clinton Avenue, 2nd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08611
Phone: (866) 964-0026
Fax: (833) 950-2972
Union Township Social Security Office
855 Lehigh Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
Phone: (877) 803-6306
Fax: (833) 950-2978
Woodbridge Social Security Office
190 Middlesex Turnpike, 3rd Floor
Iselin, NJ 08830
Phone: (877) 600-2852
Fax: (833) 950-2980
Fact Checking: The SSA field office addresses shown here were verified by contacting the Social Security Administration directly. We also personally called every phone number listed here to confirm they were accurate on February 24, 2026.
Pro Tip: If you're applying for New Jersey disability benefits in person, plan to spend 4-5 hours in the office during your appointment.
Laura Schaefer is the author of The Teashop Girls, The Secret Ingredient, and Littler Women: A Modern Retelling. She is also an active co-author or ghostwriter of several nonfiction books on personal and business development. Laura currently lives in Windermere, Florida with her husband and daughter and works with clients all over the world. Visit her online at lauraschaeferwriter.com and linkedin.com.
