Question for working NJ moms

meli1025 · April 2014

The local NJ board is very slow so I thought I would pose my question here. Are any of you familiar with the "bond with child" benefit that's offered in NJ? I tried calling the number but of course I'm getting a busy signal. The information online says if you file too soon or too late your claim could be denied. Has anyone ever used this benefit before? I know it's somewhat new. From what I understand, you can get additional paid time off, paid for by the state, for bonding with your child. This would kick in after your STD payments through your employer stop. If anyone has any experience with this, please share. I just printed out the application and it's ten pages. They sure don't make it easy!

meli1025 · April 2014

@jkanter107, good luck and let me know how you make out! I'm trying to call 609-292-7060 and it's a contstant busy signal. So I went online to this link...

https://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/fli/content/bonding.html

But they give minimal information. Here's the application....

https://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/forms_pdfs/tdi/fl1.pdf

I'm so confused though. And my employer bounced me to FMLA, who bounced me to my disability claim person, who bounced me to the state. Hoping someone on here has experience with this on how to do it right.

talkthewholetime · April 2014

Hey girl hey.

In the state of NJ you are entitled to 12 weeks of Family Leave (6 weeks at 2/3 of your salary, 6 weeks unpaid) to be taken at any point in your child's first year. You are eligible for your employer's insurance coverage as well during those 12 weeks (but still pay your premium)

I'm taking mine in September. (I teach, so I'll use sick time until the end of the school year, nothing over the summer, and do 12 weeks family leave in the fall)

Let me know if you have any questions!

meli1025 · April 2014

talkthewholetime said:

Hey girl hey.

In the state of NJ you are entitled to 12 weeks of Family Leave (6 weeks at 2/3 of your salary, 6 weeks unpaid) to be taken at any point in your child's first year. You are eligible for your employer's insurance coverage as well during those 12 weeks (but still pay your premium)

I'm taking mine in September. (I teach, so I'll use sick time until the end of the school year, nothing over the summer, and do 12 weeks family leave in the fall)

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you! At what point do you file the claim for the 6 weeks of paid time? I will have 8 weeks of STD pay kick in right when my c-section happens.

talkthewholetime · April 2014

meli1025 said:

talkthewholetime said:

Hey girl hey.

In the state of NJ you are entitled to 12 weeks of Family Leave (6 weeks at 2/3 of your salary, 6 weeks unpaid) to be taken at any point in your child's first year. You are eligible for your employer's insurance coverage as well during those 12 weeks (but still pay your premium)

I'm taking mine in September. (I teach, so I'll use sick time until the end of the school year, nothing over the summer, and do 12 weeks family leave in the fall)

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you! At what point do you file the claim for the 6 weeks of paid time? I will have 8 weeks of STD pay kick in right when my c-section happens.

It depends when you're going to take it. You can't file before you take it. You can file every week for the money, or file all at the end. I think there's a few options. It does take a while to get the money though, (coworkers have told me) so don't count on having it during those six weeks (if that makes sense)

LunaBug924 · April 2014

I just started working on all my paperwork for this as well. From what I understand you'll have to wait to submit this until on or after you last day of STD. They can be used back to back or you can take it any time in the year you have the baby. It's an additional 6 weeks but your employer may require you to use vacation or sick time to supplement, which will reduce the time the state pays.

Take all that with a grain of salt, this is just what I understood from the eligibility page. I hope you can get through to the customer service line. If nothing else, call the number for STD, tell them you have questions about the F.L.I. form and ask if they can transfer you. Good luck!

meli1025 · April 2014

Thank you @talkthewholetime and @LunaBug924! I do want to take it as soon as my STD ends. My employer has approved for me to take 4 months...I just have to figure out what I'll need to use as PTO once I know how long I will get this state benefit for. My disability claim person said that I could get 6 weeks of it when my STD pay ends, but that I have to file the claim directly with the state. Good to know that I could always file and get the money at the end too. I just want to make sure I take advantage of this benefit since it's available! I would like for as much of my time off as possible to be paid. That's the only thing that worries me about being off for so long.

jnyhafner · April 2014

NJ disability covers you for 4 weeks prior to you due date, 6 weeks after your due date and then an additional 6 weeks, considered baby bonding time. All paid at a pertcentage of your current salary through disability. You must file your additional 6 weeks bonding time 30 days before your first 6 weeks run out,mor they will deny you. This was all verified through the state.

Crazijewel · April 2014

talkthewholetime said:
Hey girl hey.

In the state of NJ you are entitled to 12 weeks of Family Leave (6 weeks at 2/3 of your salary, 6 weeks unpaid) to be taken at any point in your child's first year. You are eligible for your employer's insurance coverage as well during those 12 weeks (but still pay your premium)

I'm taking mine in September. (I teach, so I'll use sick time until the end of the school year, nothing over the summer, and do 12 weeks family leave in the fall)

Let me know if you have any questions!

This is exactly what I am going. Also, a teacher. You can't turn it in early and all those pages won't apply to you. Two years ago when I had my son they paid me the lump sum on a prepaid visa (so don't accidentally throw it out)!

giggler25 · April 2014

Thanks for the info! I've never heard of this either, and not sure I fully understand how/if the NJ benefit works for people who DO get paid leave from their employer, but just want to add MORE paid time off through the state.

BTW, since some of you said you were teachers, I wanted to point this out:

"Employees of educational institutions during any period between academic years or terms or during a school-wide recess, when you have a reasonable assurance of returning to work in the same or similar capacity when school resumes." (See last bullet at this link: https://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/fli/worker/state/FL_SP_benefit_limitations.html.}

talkthewholetime · April 2014

giggler25 said:

Thanks for the info! I've never heard of this either, and not sure I fully understand how/if the NJ benefit works for people who DO get paid leave from their employer, but just want to add MORE paid time off through the state.

BTW, since some of you said you were teachers, I wanted to point this out:

"Employees of educational institutions during any period between academic years or terms or during a school-wide recess, when you have a reasonable assurance of returning to work in the same or similar capacity when school resumes." (See last bullet at this link: https://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/fli/worker/state/FL_SP_benefit_limitations.html.}

That just means a teacher can't use it over the summer (aka trying to get paid when you wouldn't be working)

Want a personalized experience?

Question for working NJ moms

Re: Question for working NJ moms

Choose Another Board

Search Boards