Workers’ compensation benefits will increase to a maximum of $650.00 per week in 2004 from the present weekly benefit of $638. payable in 2003. Injured workers will receive these benefits while they are out of work and under authorized medical care. Temporary workers’ compensation benefits are based upon the state average weekly wage (SAWW). The temporary workers’ compensation rate is set at 75% of the SAWW. Since 1980 benefits have risen each year. Workers’ Compensation benefits are not subject to Federal income tax.
For those who are injured or suffer from a non work-related medical condition the State of New Jersey provides State Disability Benefits (TDB). TDB benefits are also based upon the yearly SAWW. They have increased from $450. per week in 2003 to a maximum of $459. in 2004. State TDB and unemployment benefits are based upon a maximum of $24,300. payable in 2004. The rate for 2003 was based on a maximum of $23,900.
Unemployment benefits are payable if a worker is not disabled due to a medical condition. New Jersey’s unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in November2003 and reached its lowest level since January 2003. The New Jersey rate remained below the nation’s jobless rate of 5.9 percent for the eighth consecutive month.
Unemployment benefits increased to $490 per week in 2004. This represents a consistent rise as mirrored in other government programs.
On July 1, 2003, New Jersey legislation was approved that temporarily changes the method used for calculating the total amount of benefits an unemployed worker may be entitled to receive. This amendment to the unemployment compensation law does not affect how an individual's weekly benefit rate is calculated, but it may increase benefits for those workers who would not ordinarily be eligible for the maximum 26 weeks of benefits.
Effective with new unemployment claims filed on July 6, 2003, New Jersey's unemployed workers will be eligible for benefits equal to the worker's number of base weeks, instead of the 75% of base weeks previously provided, up to a maximum of 26 weeks. Under this amendment an unemployed worker who has 20 base weeks of employment, and who would have previously been eligible for 15 weeks of benefits (75% of base weeks), will now be eligible for 20 weeks of unemployment benefits. This change to how total unemployment benefits are calculated is limited to a two-year period ending on July 1, 2005.