Family Leave Insurance (FLI) in New Jersey

What is New Jersey's Family Leave Insurance?

Family Leave Insurance (FLI) offers financial support to eligible New Jersey workers taking time off to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, or a seriously ill family member, ensuring a stable income during these important life moments.

Am I Eligible for Family Leave Insurance?

Family Leave Insurance is available to most New Jersey workers. To have a valid claim, you need to have paid into the program through your employment and meet minimum gross earnings requirements.

Minimum earnings: The state looks at your earnings in the five completed quarters before your disability began (the first four are your "base year"). To qualify, you must have worked a set number of weeks at or above a weekly earnings minimum, or reached a combined base-year earnings total. These thresholds are set each calendar year and change annually — see the current figures on the TDI worker page.

Residency: You may be eligible to receive benefits if you work in New Jersey, regardless of where you live. The determining factor is where you are employed and work — not where you reside.

Who is NOT eligible: Federal government employees, employees of faith-based organizations, and workers who are not technically employees (such as independent contractors) are not eligible. School employees on a school-wide recess or break between academic years also cannot receive benefits during that recess period.

Employees who live in New Jersey but are not employed within the state of New Jersey are not eligible.

Who Can Apply for Family Leave Insurance?

FLI is broadly available to most New Jersey workers. Below is a breakdown of the groups who may qualify:

Birthing Parents: Family Leave Insurance then provides up to 12 of benefits to bond with a new child before the baby's first birthday. Parents may use this immediately after their Temporary Disability Insurance ends or after they return to work before the baby's first birthday.

Non-Birthing Parents (Fathers, Partners, and Spouses): Parents of newborns who work in New Jersey may qualify for cash benefits for time off from work to bond with a baby during the infant's first year.

Adoptive and Foster Parents: You can claim Family Leave Insurance benefits for time off from work to bond with an adopted child or foster child during the first 12 months after the child's adoption or placement.

Family Caregivers: Family Leave Insurance benefits can partially replace your wages when you have to stop working to care for a loved one with a serious physical or mental health condition.

Survivors of Domestic or Sexual Violence: Family Leave Insurance benefits are available to an eligible survivor or the loved one of a survivor. Allowable uses include seeking medical attention, therapy, victim advocacy, or legal services; safety planning or escaping abuse; attending or preparing for court; and recovering at home.

Important note for domestic/sexual violence applicants: You must apply using the paper FL-1 application, submitted by mail or fax. When completing question 12, select "Care of family member" and write in "Coping with Domestic (or Sexual) Violence."

How do I apply to Family Leave Insurance (FLI)?

You can apply for Family Leave Insurance through several different methods. It is recommended to file your claim within 30 days of the first day of your leave to avoid a reduction or denial of benefits.

Online (Fastest): File your claim through the secure online portal at myLeaveBenefits.nj.gov.
Mail: You can mail your completed paper application (Form FL-1) to: Division of Temporary Disability Insurance, P.O. Box 387, Trenton, NJ 08625-0387.
Fax: Fax the completed application to 609-984-4138.

How long does it take to receive funds from Family Leave Insurance?

Timelines for receiving benefits depend on the accuracy and completeness of your application.

Initial Filing: You should file your claim starting from the first day of your leave.
Touchpoints: If you do not claim all 12 weeks of leave initially, the Division will mail you a Request for Continued Claim Certification (Form FL-3) to claim additional periods of leave.
Timeline: While specific average processing times are not provided in the primary application, submitting online and ensuring all sections (including medical or employer information) are complete is noted as the fastest way to receive benefits.

What do the application steps look like?

To ensure a smooth process, follow these steps:

Complete the Worker Portions: Accurately fill out Part A (Your Information) and Part B (Employment Information) of the FL-1 form.
Obtain Employer Information: You will need your employer's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), which can be found on your W-2 or obtained from your HR office.
Medical or Care Certification (If Applicable): If you are caring for an ill family member, Part C must be completed by both the care recipient and their healthcare provider.
- For safety reasons related to Domestic/Sexual Violence: When choosing your reason for Family Leave on question 12, select “Care of family member” even if you are caring for yourself. Then, write in “Coping with Domestic (or Sexual) Violence” in the blank space next to it.
Domestic/Sexual Violence Documentation (If Applicable): If your leave is for safety reasons related to domestic or sexual violence, attach relevant legal or advocate documentation instead of medical records.
Submit the Application: Send your completed form via the online portal, mail, or fax as detailed above.
Monitor Your Claim: Check your claim status online and respond promptly to any requests for further information.

Transitioning from Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) to Family Leave Insurance (FLI)

After delivery, complete the Request to Claimant for Continued Claim Information (Form P30) when it arrives in the mail, then wait for the state to send you the New Mother Bonding Notice (FL2) — do not apply for FLI using the standard FL-1 application before receiving the FL2, as doing so will significantly delay your benefits.
Once you receive the FL2, complete it online using the unique Claim ID Number printed on the form, and if everything goes smoothly, benefits should appear on your debit card within two business days.
If you received private-plan TDI (not state-plan TDI), skip the FL2 process and apply directly for FLI using the standard application.

Employer Notice Requirements:

For bonding claims, you must give your employer 30 days' notice if taking leave in one continuous period, and 15 days' notice for non-continuous leave.
For caregiving claims, you must give your employer reasonable notice for continuous leave, and 15 days' notice for each anticipated intermittent absence.

What documentation is required when I fill out my application?

All Applicants Must Provide:

Personal Identification: Your Social Security Number (required on every page of the application), date of birth, and contact information.
State date of your leave
Employment Details: Employment history for the past 18 months (employer names, addresses, FEIN, dates worked).
Dates of any paid time off or other benefits received after your last day of work.
Wage Verification: Your regular weekly earnings for each employer.
Reason-Specific Records:
- For Bonding (newborn): Child's date of birth and name. No medical certification required for the worker.
- For adoptive/foster parent claims: Date of adoption or placement and child's name.
- Caregiving: A medical certification from your family member's healthcare provider confirming the family member's serious condition and need for care. The provider can submit this online using the unique Online Form ID number you provide them after completing your portion of the application, or on the paper form.
- Safety (Domestic/Sexual Violence): Medical documentation OR one of the following substitutes — a restraining order, court documents, conviction documentation, or a certification from a Domestic Violence Specialist, social worker, shelter worker, clergy member, or similar professional.

What to Expect After Applying for Family Leave Insurance

Confirmation After submitting, you will receive a Confirmation of Claim Receipt in the mail. Do not discard this form — you will need it if you need to update any information such as your name, address, or return-to-work date.

Additional Information Requests You may receive a request for more information on your claim, or a request for medical information for caregiving claims if information is missing, needs further review, or conflicts with your statement. Return these forms promptly.

Decision Notice: You will receive a decision notice explaining whether your claim has been approved or denied.

If you are denied, you can file an appeal: Every decision notice has instructions for filing an appeal if you don't agree with the decision. Appeals must be filed within 21 calendar days of the claimant date of mailing.

You can appeal in three ways:

File an appeal online
Mail a written statement to: Division of Temporary Disability Insurance, PO Box 387, Trenton, NJ 08625-0387
Fax your written statement to: 609-984-4138

Common FAQs

How long can I receive FLI benefits?
- Workers can receive benefits for up to 12 consecutive weeks (84 days) or up to 56 days (8 weeks) of intermittent leave in a 12-month period. If you are not taking all 12 weeks in one consecutive block, you must complete Part D (Partial Leave Schedule) on the application.
Who can I care for under FLI?
- The definition of "family member" has been expanded to cover parents, spouses, children of any age, parents-in-law, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, domestic partners, chosen family, any other individuals related by blood, and any other individuals whom you consider to be family.
What if I return to work early?
- You must report your return-to-work date immediately to the Division to avoid overpayment of benefits.
When do benefits start being payable?
- Benefits are payable starting from the very first day of your leave.
How much will I receive?
- Benefits provide approximately 85% of your average weekly wage, with a maximum weekly benefit amount outlined in the Cash Benefits Palm Card.

Who do I contact about my application status?

Online: Check your status 24/7 at myLeaveBenefits.nj.gov.
Phone: Call the TDI Claims Unit at 609-292-7060 during business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

If you have a private Family Leave Insurance plan through your employer, check with their Human Resources department for claim status.