State Unemployment Benefits in New Jersey: when someone dies
A 4-step process for New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Division of Unemployment Insurance after a death in New Jersey.
OverviewWhen someone dies
Administering agency
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Division of Unemployment Insurance
Phone609-292-6800
WebsiteVisit website →
Verified Jul 2026
Steps to take
- Confirm whether the deceased had unemployment benefits owed for weeks before the date of death.
- If there is no will and the estate is small, go to the Surrogate of the county where the deceased lived, execute and file the required affidavit, and secure a true copy from the Surrogate. Otherwise obtain certified Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary.
- Complete and notarize the applicable parts of Form B-40, Affidavit for Claiming Benefits Due a Deceased Person, and attach the death certificate and the Surrogate document.
- Email the form with supporting documents to CollateralClaims@dol.nj.gov for review, or mail it to the address printed on the form.
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Division of Unemployment Insurance
Phone: 609-292-6800
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers unemployment insurance through its Division of Unemployment Insurance, with the claimant portal at myunemployment.nj.gov.
A spouse, next of kin, or estate representative completes Form B-40, the Affidavit for Claiming Benefits Due a Deceased Person, before a notary public, attaches the death certificate and either a true copy of the affidavit filed with the county Surrogate (small intestate estates) or certified Letters, and emails the package to CollateralClaims@dol.nj.gov.
Not always. If the claimant died without a will and the estate — including the benefits claimed — does not exceed $10,000 and a surviving spouse is claiming, or does not exceed $5,000 and a next of kin is claiming with no surviving spouse, an affidavit filed with the county Surrogate is enough. If there was a will, or the estate exceeds $5,000, Form B-40 must be accompanied by certified Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary.
There is no dedicated death-reporting hotline. Filing Form B-40 by email to CollateralClaims@dol.nj.gov initiates the claim. For general unemployment questions, NJDOL publishes a set of local numbers that all reach the same phone system, including 609-292-6800 for Trenton.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unemployment Benefits in New Jersey primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Division of Unemployment Insurance
Phone609-292-6800
WebsiteVisit website →
Verified Jul 2026