New Jersey's paid family leave is called Family Leave Insurance (FLI). As of October 2026 it pays 85% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,119 a week, for up to 12 consecutive weeks or 56 separate days in a 12-month period, to bond with a new child or care for a seriously ill loved one. Workers fund it through payroll deductions.
Two things make New Jersey different from its neighbours. The pay rate is higher than New York's 67%, and you can take leave as single days, which suits parents easing back into work.
Everything here comes from the state's own Family Leave Insurance pages, which I read in October 2026.
New Jersey FLI in 2026 at a glance
| Rule | What New Jersey says (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Pay rate | 85% of your average weekly wage |
| Weekly maximum | $1,119 in 2026 ($1,081 in 2025) |
| Continuous leave | Up to 12 weeks (84 days) in a 12-month period |
| Intermittent leave | Up to 56 individual days (8 weeks) in a 12-month period |
| Base week | Any week you earn $310 or more in 2026 |
| Worker contribution | 0.23% on the first $171,100 of wages, a maximum of $393.53 for 2026 |
| Employer contribution | None: employers don't contribute to the program |
Who New Jersey FLI is for
The state splits its guidance into four groups, which is a handy way to check you're in the right place:
- fathers and partners bonding with a newborn
- mothers who've just had a baby, usually moving on from disability benefits
- adoptive and foster parents bonding with a newly placed child
- family caregivers looking after a seriously ill or injured loved one
How New Jersey works out your benefit
The state shows its maths, and it's worth following once. It takes your base year earnings, divides them by the number of base weeks, and pays 85% of that average.
- Find your base year: the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your leave.
- Count your base weeks: weeks where you earned $310 or more in 2026.
- Divide base year earnings by base weeks to get your average weekly wage.
- Multiply by 85%, then apply the $1,119 weekly cap.
- For leave taken day by day, each day pays one-seventh of the weekly rate.
In the state's own example, a worker named Steve earned $18,200 across 45 base weeks, an average weekly wage of $404, so his weekly benefit is $343.
| Steve's quarter | Earnings | Base weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2024 to 31 Dec 2024 | $4,200 | 11 |
| 1 Jan 2025 to 31 Mar 2025 | $4,000 | 10 |
| 1 Apr 2025 to 30 Jun 2025 | $5,000 | 12 |
| 1 Jul 2025 to 30 Sep 2025 | $5,000 | 12 |
| Base year total | $18,200 | 45 |
The intermittent option, and the trade-off
Here's the detail most guides skip. Taking leave in one block gives you up to 12 weeks, but taking it in pieces caps you at 56 days, which is 8 weeks. So splitting your leave across a few months can cost you four weeks of benefit. If you can take bonding leave in one go, you get more of it.
For bonding, the clock is your child's first birthday: continuous leave must be claimed before then. You can start an online application up to 60 days ahead, and if you apply after your leave starts you have 30 days from the first day of leave to file.
Applying, and avoiding delays
You can apply online, by mail or by fax, and the state says online is faster. A few rules decide how quickly the payments arrive:
- Your draft online application is deleted unless you confirm it within 14 days of starting, then certify and file within 14 days after your leave starts.
- For caregiving claims, you print instructions with a unique Online Form ID and give them to your family member's healthcare provider, who completes their part online. They aren't notified automatically.
- Some applicants are asked to verify their identity with ID.me.
- If you apply online, don't also send the same claim by mail or fax, because that can slow it down.
- Approved benefits arrive on a prepaid debit card, posted in a plain envelope that might look like junk mail.
Mothers who've just had a baby can move from disability benefits into bonding leave through a separate transitional bonding application (form FL2). And some employers run Family Leave Insurance through a private insurance plan instead of the state scheme, so ask your employer which applies to you.
Job protection and taxes
While you receive benefits, the state says your job is protected under state and federal job protection laws, with extra notice requirements. No federal income tax is withheld from payments, and FLI benefits aren't taxed by the State of New Jersey, so keep the end-of-year statement for your federal return.
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If you're also looking at federal leave, read my guide to FMLA leave, and if you need time off for a loss rather than a birth, see how bereavement leave works. For leave that isn't paid at all, unpaid leave explains your options.
My verdict
New Jersey's FLI is one of the more generous state schemes: 85% of pay, a cap of $1,119 a week and nothing extra for your employer to pay. If you can, take bonding leave in one continuous block so you get the full 12 weeks rather than 56 days, apply online up to 60 days early, and check your base weeks so there's no surprise in the benefit letter.
Related guides live in the Creator Pay Rates: What YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat Really Pay (75 Answers).
Frequently asked questions
How much does New Jersey paid family leave pay in 2026?
As of October 2026, Family Leave Insurance pays 85% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $1,119 a week.
How long is paid family leave in New Jersey?
Up to 12 consecutive weeks, or up to 56 individual days of intermittent leave, in a 12-month period.
Who pays for NJ Family Leave Insurance?
Workers, through payroll deductions. For 2026 the rate is 0.23% on the first $171,100 of wages, a maximum of $393.53. Employers don't contribute.
What is a base week in New Jersey?
In 2026, a base week is any week in which you earn $310 or more.
Can I apply for NJ Family Leave Insurance before my leave starts?
Yes. You can start an online application up to 60 days in advance. If you apply after your leave begins, you have 30 days from your first day of leave to file.
Is NJ Family Leave Insurance taxed?
No federal income tax is withheld, and New Jersey doesn't tax FLI benefits, but you'll receive information to complete your federal tax return.
