Someone tell me if I am seeing things or if this is for real?!?!?!!!

Posted By

Message

Member since 1/07

9164 total posts

Name:
Amanda

Someone tell me if I am seeing things or if this is for real?!?!?!!!

OK, so I got an email at work because I live in NJ that some things have changed with my wonderful state for 2009.

From the way I am reading this, I am understanding that NJ will now provide 6 weeks of paid family leave which would mean if I had another baby, I could get 6 weeks of disability pay AND 6 weeks of family leave pay to bond with my child. Chat Icon

If this is true, then that is AWESOME! I get that I will have payroll deductions to pay for this, but it's something really low like 0.09%... still awesome since DH and I are eventually thinking of having a 2nd!

Someone please read this and tell me if you are reading the same thing!

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
This employer is subject to the
Family Leave Insurance provisions of the New Jersey Temporary Disability Benefits Law.
Beginning July 1, 2009, New Jersey law will provide up to six (6) weeks of Family Leave Insurance benefits. Benefits are
payable to covered employees from either the New Jersey State Plan or an approved employer-provided private plan to:
Bond with a child during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, if the covered individual or the domestic
partner or civil union partner of the covered individual, is a biological parent of the child, or the first 12 months
after the placement of the child for adoption with the covered individual.
Care for a family member with a serious health condition supported by a certification provided by a health care
provider. Claims may be filed for six consecutive weeks, for intermittent weeks or for 42 intermittent days during a
12 month period beginning with the first date of the claim.
Family member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner or parent of a covered
individual.
Child means a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild or legal ward of a covered individual, child of a
domestic partner of the covered individual, or child of a civil union partner of the covered individual, who is less
than 19 years of age or is 19 years of age or older but incapable of self-care because of mental or physical
impairment.
New Jersey State Plan
Employees covered under the New Jersey State Plan can obtain information pertaining to the program and an application
for Family Leave Insurance benefits (Form FL-1), after June 1, 2009, by visiting the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development’s web site at www.nj.gov/labor, by telephoning the Division of Temporary Disability Insurance’s Customer
Service Section at (609) 292-7060, or by writing to the Division of Temporary Disability Insurance, PO Box 387, Trenton,
NJ 08625-0387.
If an employee is receiving State Plan temporary disability benefits for pregnancy, after the child is born, the Division will
mail the employee information on how to file a claim for Family Leave Insurance benefits to bond with the newborn child.
If a claim is filed to have Family Leave Insurance benefits begin immediately after the employee recovers from her
pregnancy-related disability, she will be paid at the same weekly benefit amount as she was paid for her pregnancy-related
disability claim and no waiting period will be required.
Private Plan
An employer can elect to provide workers with Family Leave Insurance benefits coverage under a private plan approved by
the Division of Temporary Disability Insurance. The Division will not approve a private plan requiring employee
contributions unless a majority of the employees, covered by the private plan, have agreed to private plan coverage by
written election. Employers will provide information regarding the private plan and the proper forms to claim benefits to
employees covered under the private plan.
Financing of the Program
This program is financed by employee contributions. Beginning January 1, 2009, employers are authorized to deduct the
contributions from employee wages for all employees covered under the State Plan. These deductions must be noted on the
employee’s pay envelope, paycheck or on some other form of notice. The taxable wage base for Family Leave Insurance
benefits is the same as the taxable wage base for Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance.
Employees covered under an approved private plan will not have contributions deducted from wages for Family Leave
Insurance benefits coverage unless a majority of the workers consent to contribute to the approved private plan. If
employees consent to contribute to the private plan, the contributions cannot exceed those paid by workers covered under
the State Plan.

Message edited 1/7/2009 2:02:17 PM.

Posted 1/7/09 1:46 PM