Calling the NJ Unemployment line takes some patience and a willingness to listen to directory listing after directory listing. It takes a long time to reach a customer service agent, but it's possible if you have ten minutes or so. A word to the wise though, make sure you're quick when you go through the directories. If you don't respond quickly after the options are listed, the recorded message says, "That answer is not valid," and hang up.
That said, I can understand there are probably dozens of reasons why people call the unemployment line — and there are a lot of cases. That means the phone line probably gets a lot of callers and they all have different needs. It just seems highly repetitive, and you'd think there was a better way to direct people to a live agent without all the questions in the middle.
When I first called, I was told I had to call a different number since I was calling from outside of New Jersey. This is technically true since my cell number is registered in New York, but I live in NJ so that was slightly irritating. Regardless, I called the number it gave me: 888-795-6672.
I was given two options, to press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish. I chose 1, and then it said, "You've reached the unemployment call center. Although the reemployment center is closed, you can reach the inquiry center by pressing 2 now." This was odd to me because I called in the middle of the afternoon, but I just went along and pressed 2. Then the same recorded voice said "Welcome to the NJ Department of Workforce Development" and once again I was instructed to press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish.
I chose 1, and the recorded voice told me, "Detailed information about unemployment and disability insurance can be found on their website, www.nj.gov.labor."
The next directory informed me, "For unemployment insurance information, press 1. For disability insurance information, press 2 and for information about job training programs, press 3." I pressed 1 as I wanted to find out about insurance, and then an automated voice told me, "After you've selected or listened to any of our scripts, you'll have the opportunity to talk to a customer agent." While those words were encouraging, it was also frustrating because I knew I would have to listen to a script now.
Next, it said, "For information from your last reemployment benefit, press 1. For general information about unemployment insurance, press 2." I pressed 2 and it said, "If you worked only in NJ, press 1. If you worked in other states besides NJ, press 2. If you worked in multiple states, press 3.
I chose 1 and had to listen to a 2-minute script that ultimately sent me back to the website. There is good news. At the end of that tedious script, I was able to talk to an agent. I had to wait another ten minutes on the line, but I reached a representative who answered my questions.
All I can say is this: if you plan to talk to someone at the NJ unemployment office, be prepared to wait.