New Jersey Disability Phone Number

When Do I Have To File My Tdi Claim

You must file your claim within 30 days from the first day you become disabled. If you file later than this, you will have to show good cause for why you didnt file the claim on time. To do this, attach an explanation of why the filing was delayed to your claim form. If you dont show good cause, you may be ineligible for benefits, or your benefits may be reduced.

Note that you cant file your claim before you become disabled, even if you know, for example, the date of the disabling event that will prevent you from working.

What Vocational Rehabilitation Services Are Available In New Jersey

After individuals become disabled, some can benefit from receiving services that will help them to prepare to work again and make a successful return to work. New Jersey provides these services through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services .

There is a central office located in Trenton and 18 additional offices located throughout the state to services individuals. Below is the contact information for the central office call this office for information about a local office near you.

DVRS Central Office

Apply For Additional Benefits

If your LTD claim has been granted, most policies will require you to file for Social Security disability benefits as well. Any Social Security benefits you receive will offset the amount the LTD insurance company is required to pay. Thus, your LTD insurance company has a significant interest in seeing you approved for Social Security benefits. Because of this interest, the insurer may refer you to a national company to assist you with your Social Security application. It is important to remember that these companies are focused primarily on saving the insurance company money. They may not be attorneys, and may not put your interests first. Bross & Frankel can assist you with your Social Security disability application. Call today to learn more.

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Who Is Eligible For New Jersey Disability Benefits

To qualify for TDI in New Jersey in 2022, you must have worked 20 weeks. Also, you had to earn at least $240 weekly, or have earned a combined total of $12,000 in the base year.

To have your claim approved for New Jersey TDI, you need to have paid into the program through your employment and meet minimum gross earnings requirements. TDI is available to most New Jersey workers.

Exemptions include federal government employees and some local government employees like school district employees, out-of-state employees, faith-based organization employees, and workers that are not technically employees .

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 be eligible for benefits.

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How To Apply For Long Term Disability In New Jersey

May 15, 2018 By Rich Frankel

If you are disabled from working, you may well be depending on receiving long-term disability benefits through a policy provided by your employer. Knowing the right steps and timeframe in which to apply for long term disability benefits can make all the difference in being approved for benefits when you need them most.

Depending on the policy, long-term disability insurance pays a percentage of your salary, typically 50 to 60 percent. The benefits last until you go back to work or for the maximum number of the years stated in the policy .

It is very important to understand that LTD benefits usually require a separate application from short-term disability benefits. If your policy provides for short-term benefits, these will usually last for only 1-6 months exactly how long they are available depends on the particular policy. If you continue to be disabled and unable to work after your short-term benefits expire, you usually need to apply separately for long-term disability benefits.

Apply for Long Term Disability Benefits in 7 Simple Steps

5 days

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How Can I Apply For Social Security Disability In New Jersey

Social Security disability is for those who are disabled and unable to work for one year or longer. To apply, you can:

• Visit your local Social Security Administration office. The SSA’sfield office locatorcan help you find the location nearest to you.
• Telephone the SSA at 772-1213. A customer service representative can make an appointment for you to apply in person or by telephone. If you file in person, you’ll fill out a paper version of the application for Social Security disability.
• Visitwww.ssa.gov/applyfordisabilityand apply for disability benefits online.

Outreach And Training Events Conducted

Timothy is a 45-year-old man, with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, epilepsy, intellectual disability and Cerebral Palsy. Robin, his sister and legal guardian, and her family care for him in their home, attend to his every need and most significantly, they understand his non-traditional form of communication.

When youre 17 and in high school, life should be fun and easy, full of friends, social events, and junk food. For Alyia, being a teenage girl has come with a unique set of challenges.

Quinnell, a 33-year-old man, first came to Disability Rights NJ in 2014 seeking assistance advocating for his assistive technology needs, to help him in his schoolwork with special devices for his computer.

Harley doesn’t let his developmental disability get in the way of enjoying life. In fact, he’ll tell you that the reason he’s such a joyful person is that he is who he is, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Just like most kids his age, Max enjoys spending his time listening to music, tanning, and going to the gym, however, one thing that sets him apart is his disability. Diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia, a form of Cerebral Palsy causing stiffness in the legs, Max is an outspoken advocate for others with disabilities, especially when it yields the opportunity to empower kids like himself.

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Ask Your Employer For An Application

Your employers Human Resources department can be an invaluable resource throughout the application process. Someone in your HR department should be able to provide you with an LTD application and important instructions to complete it.You may also be able to find the forms on the insurance company or claim administrators website. The following are examples of long term disability claim forms taken directly from insurance companies websites:

The date your were injured or your illness started The last day you worked A description of your disability The names and contact information for your doctors/medical providers Any medications you take Any other income you may be eligible to apply forIt is important to answer every question completely. However, the form may limit the space available to respond, so use an additional page if necessary to give full and complete answers.

What If I’m Denied Benefits Or The Benefit Amount Is Wrong

You can appeal a decision by the NJ Division of TDI if you think it’s wrong. Your appeal must be in writing and contain an explanation of why you disagree with the decision. Your appeal has to be received by or postmarked within seven days of getting your letter of determination, orwithin ten days from the date the letter was mailed to you. You can mail or fax your appeal or submit it online.

Once your appeal is received, you’ll get a letter that advises you of the date, time, and location of your appeal hearing. An Appeal Tribunal examiner will conduct the hearing, and you must be present for it. You don’t need an attorney, but you can bring an attorney or a friend or relative with you. The examiner’s decision will be sent to you by mail.

If you’d like legal representation at the hearing, contact a disability lawyer in your area.

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Are You Eligible For New Jersey Short

If youve been hurt and cant work, you may be eligible for New Jersey short term disability benefits. Unlike most states, New Jersey has its own temporary disability insurance program. This will help you maintain your income while youre recovering from your injuries or illness. However, this isnt a form of workers comp .

How can you take advantage of this benefit when you need it? At Uscher, Quiat, Uscher & Russo, P.C., we can help answer your questions about New Jersey short-term disability benefits.

New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefits And Family Leave Insurance

The New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefits law, enacted in 1948 and later amended in 2008 to include Family Leave Insurance , allows for NJ covered workers to take paid time off for their own non-occupational related injury or illness or to care for a family member with a serious health condition or bond with a new child .

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Who Is Eligible For New Jerseys Temporary Disability Benefits

To be eligible for New Jerseys TDI program, you must have a non-work-relatedillness or injury that keeps you from working and be under medical care for treatment of the disabling condition.

You also must have worked for at least 20 calendar weeks earning at least $240 per week for a covered New Jersey employer. Alternatively, you must have earned $12,000 or more during your base year. Your base year is determined by the date you filed a claim for benefits. The year is defined as the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file the claim.

Understanding Paid Leave In New Jersey

Paid leave in New Jersey is made up of New Jerseys family leave insurance and temporary disability insurance . You can use FLI to take time off from work to bond with a newborn, newly adopted, or new foster care child, to deal with problems related to sexual or domestic violence, or to care for a seriously ill family member.

You can use TDI to care for your own injury, disability, or illness, including time to recover after giving birth or to deal with pregnancy complications. Both types of insurance pay 85% of your average weekly wage up to $993. This amount is adjusted each year. You contribute to both FLI and TDI through deductions from your paychecks.

You must meet the minimum requirements for how long you have worked and how much you earn to qualify for these programs, including having worked for your employer for a minimum of 20 weeks for a minimum of $240 per week. Alternatively, you must have earned at least $12,000 from your employer during the 18 months before your requested leave.

Heres some more information about both of these programs.

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How Long Does It Take To Get Approval For Disability Benefits In Nj

Because the SSA must evaluate millions of applications pouring in from around the country, it leans on smaller organizations at the state level to help speed up claims processing. In New Jersey, the SSA collaborates with the Division of Disability Determination Services . However, even with assistance from the DDS, there are still hundreds of thousands of claims which must be processed. This means evaluations can take some time.

The typical turnaround is approximately 3-5 months. Processing may be slower if you need to submit to a medical exam or if your application is randomly chosen for quality assurance.

Processing may be expedited for Compassionate Allowance applicants, as this program is intended for very advanced and terminal illnesses. If you have questions about your claim, you can call the DDS at 920-6997, or at 648-2983 if you are hearing impaired.

Once your application has been evaluated, the SSA will send your notification of approval or rejection. A notice of award letter will detail when and how much you can expect to be paid, while a denial letter will explain why you were turned down. Most rejections are due to medical issues, such as a determination that your disability is not severe enough to prevent you from working, though some denials are due to technical issues, such as earning too much income.

Services Provided By Local Social Security Offices

Not all Social Security questions can be easily resolved online or on the phone. Thats why the Social Security Administration has field offices around the country to help address your needs face-to-face.

Before you make the trip to a Social Security office location near you, make sure you understand the full range of services provided by each office. That way, you can be sure your time will be well spent. It also allows you to prepare before you visit the office.

Here is the list of services provided by your local Social Security Office:

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Case Intake And Referral Services:

Requests for assistance are made through our Intake Department, which is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday by telephone and in-person by appointment. Messages may be left on the voicemail at 922-7233 and by e-mail at advocate@disabilityrightsnj.org 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, however cases are reviewed during business hours only.

You may complete an intake request here.

Inquiries are also accepted by mail at the address above.

For inquiries not associated with our legal representation or advocacy services, please complete our general contact form.

Division Of Disability Determination Services

Need long-term disability benefits? We may be able to help.

If you are disabled and cant work, you can apply for cash benefits through the federal Social Security Disability Program. We handle New Jersey residents’ claims for these Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits. Your disability must be permanent to qualify for the program.

If your disability is short-term, you should apply for Temporary Disability Insurance benefits. This state program pays cash benefits when you can’t work for a week or more for instance, when you have surgery, get injured, are sick, or give birth.

Apply for Social Security Disability benefits

Find out if you qualify and how to start an application.

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How Can I Enroll

• You may enroll within the first 120 days of NJEA membership without proof of good health .
• During School Visit Enrollments, typically once every three years, you may enroll within 60 days of the meeting without proof of good health .
• Enrollment outside of a School Visit Enrollment requires proof of good health that could include medical tests . If you are denied coverage, you may still enroll during a subsequent School Visit Enrollment in your building.

How Hard Is It To Get On Disability In New Jersey

Your chance of getting approved for Social Security disability benefits in New Jersey is somewhat higher than the national average approval rate, both at the initial application stage and at a disability hearing. Your chances of getting approved after your hearing are even higher if you are represented by a disability lawyer or nonattorney representative at the hearing.

Below is a comparison of the approval rates for New Jersey and the national averages.

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New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance And Family Leave Insurance

The New Jersey state program provides Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who need time off from work. Workers may be eligible for TDI if they are unable to work due to a non-work-related injury or illness or during pregnancy and/or childbirth. Workers may be eligible for FLI to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child, and to address matters related to being a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence. Employment covered under the New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Law, including state and local government employment, is also covered for Family Leave Insurance.

Coverage Options: Employers can participate in the state-run program or they can self-insure or fully insure a private plan. MetLife provides fully insured and self-insured temporary disability coverage only.

Job Protection: The NJ TDI and FLI coverage is not job protected. However, job protection may be provided through other federal or state laws such as the federal Family and Medical Leave Act or the New Jersey Family Leave Act .

Benefits:

• TDI: 26 weeks Workers may receive approximately 85% of their weekly wages with a maximum benefit of $993/week
• FLI: 12 weeks Workers may receive approximately 85% of their weekly wages with a maximum benefit of $993/week

Contributions:

As of April 25, 2022

Before You File: Eligibility Requirements For Disability Claims

In order to successfully apply for SSDI payments in New Jersey, you must meet the necessary criteria. That includes having a sufficient work history and a medical diagnosis that makes you incapable of earning an income. If you fail to meet the Social Security Administrations eligibility guidelines, your disability claim may be denied.

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