New Jersey Disability and State Leave Provisions
The following briefly highlights the provisions under New Jersey’s disability and state leave programs. You may be eligible for coverage under these programs in addition to the coverage provisions under the Company’s Short-Term Disability, Family and Medical Leave (FML) and Paid Parental Leave policy If you have questions about how these various leaves coordinate with Company policies, please contact Lincoln Financial at 1-800-213-7327.
New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefit (NJTDB) is designed to partially replace wages you lose because of a disability that is not work-related. If eligible and upon Unum’s approval of the disability, your state benefits will come directly from Unum. Wages you receive under the Company’s salary continuation policy while on short-term disability will be reduced by benefits you receive under NJTDB. Under NJTDB you may be eligible to receive weekly wages up to the state maximum weekly benefit. Under no circumstances can NJTDB benefits plus wages (through the salary continuation policy) exceed your regular weekly wage.
NJTDB runs concurrently with FML.
The New Jersey Family Leave Act grants eligible employees time off from work in connection with the birth or adoption of a child or the serious illness of a parent (in-laws, step-parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, or others having a parent-child relationship with an employee), child or spouse. The NJFLA provides for up to twelve (12) weeks of leave in a 24-month period. The 24-month period begins on the first day of the employee’s first NJFLA leave. The NJFLA does not provide employees with leave for their own disabilities.
The NJFLA runs concurrently with NJFLI (see below) and FML except in the case of caring for a parent-in-law or step-parent which is not covered by FML.
In spring of 2008, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed legislation creating a paid family leave program in the state. The legislation extends the state’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program to provide benefits for employees taking leave to care for a family member suffering a serious health condition or taking leave to bond with their newborn or newly adopted child. You may be eligible to receive partial weekly wages up to the state maximum weekly benefit.
The law permits up to 6 weeks of paid leave for workers (over a 12-month period) to provide care for a sick family member or care for a newborn or newly adopted child. Employees cannot receive simultaneously benefits under NJFLI and any other NJ disability law or an unemployment compensation program.
Benefit entitlement will be reduced up to two weeks for any paid sick leave, vacation time, or other leave at full pay required to be taken by the Company. Additionally, all benefits will run concurrently with leave provided under the Federal Family and Medical Leave (FML) and with the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA). NJFLI does not provide job protection or return rights.
All eligibility determinations will be made by the State of New Jersey. For more information, contact the NJ Department of Labor at 1-609-292-7060 or visit State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Below is an example of a typical leave. It outlines how Federal law, State of New Jersey provisions and Company programs coordinate during pregnancy disability leave. If you have questions about how these various leaves coordinate with Company policies, please contact Lincoln Financial at 1-800-213-7327.
For a visual representation of the how the different types of leaves start, end, and overlap, download the Examples of NJ Leave and Benefit Coordination Gantt Chart (PDF, 87 KB).
Short-Term Disability (STD)
Payment type:
partial income replacement
Weeks applicable:
one thru six
Note: week one for Company paid STD the first five days are charged against the sick day policy. If sick time is not available, personal, vacation or unpaid time may be used.
New Jersey Temporary Disability (NJTBD)
Payment type:
partial income replacement
Weeks applicable:
one thru six
Family Medical Leave (FML)
Payment type:
unpaid
Weeks applicable:
one thru 12
Company Provided Medical Leave
Payment type:
full income replacement
Weeks applicable:
seven thru twenty-two
Note: state benefits payment is an offset paid at partial rate of pay. Company STD and Bonding will cover remaining pay to make you whole at 100% of pay.
New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA)
Payment type:
unpaid
Weeks applicable:
seven thru eighteen
New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (NJFLI)
Payment type:
partial income replacement
Weeks applicable:
seven thru eighteen
Note: state benefits payment is an offset paid at partial rate of pay. Company STD and Bonding will cover remaining pay to make you whole at 100% of pay.