Maternity leave in New Jersey: TDI plus Family Leave Insurance
New Jersey pays new parents in two layers: disability for your pregnancy and recovery, then family leave to bond with your baby.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In New Jersey, Temporary Disability Insurance usually pays 4 weeks before your due date and 6 weeks after birth (8 after a cesarean). Then Family Leave Insurance pays up to 12 weeks of bonding in a row, or 56 separate days, before your baby's first birthday. Both pay 85% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,119 a week in 2026.
The two layers
| Program | What it covers | Typical length | Pay (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) | Pregnancy and recovery, when you can't work | Usually 4 weeks before the due date and 6 after birth; 8 after a cesarean | 85% of average weekly wage, max $1,119 |
| Family Leave Insurance (FLI) | Bonding with your baby | Up to 12 weeks in a row, or 56 separate days, before the first birthday | 85% of average weekly wage, max $1,119 |
Source: New Jersey Department of Labor, checked 13 October 2026. Your own benefit depends on your past earnings.
Timeline for a typical birth
- About 4 weeks before your due date: stop work and start TDI, with your doctor's or midwife's certification.
- Birth: TDI continues for your recovery, usually 6 weeks (8 after a cesarean).
- After recovery: switch to Family Leave Insurance for bonding, up to 12 weeks.
- Your partner: can take their own Family Leave Insurance weeks, at the same time or later, within the first year.
Deadlines
- TDI: there is a 7-day waiting week, which is paid back if you are out more than 22 days. File within 30 days.
- FLI: apply up to 60 days before, or within 30 days after, your bonding leave begins.
Good to know
Ask your OB or midwife for the TDI certification at your 34 to 36-week visit, and put the FLI filing window in your calendar before the birth.
Your job and your health insurance
TDI and FLI pay you; they do not by themselves protect your job. Job protection comes from the New Jersey Family Leave Act and the federal FMLA, if you meet their eligibility rules. Under FMLA, your employer must also keep your group health insurance during the leave. Ask HR in writing which protections apply to you.
Why claim every week
Research on New Jersey and California (Hamad and colleagues, 2019) found that paid family leave was followed by a modest increase in exclusive breastfeeding at six months. Whatever your feeding choice, time at home in the first months is worth claiming.
Checklist
See all states in paid family leave by state.
Questions parents ask
How long is maternity leave in NJ?
Typically about 10 weeks of TDI around the birth (12 after a cesarean), then up to 12 weeks of Family Leave Insurance for bonding, used in one block or as 56 separate days before your baby turns one.
How much does NJ pay for maternity leave in 2026?
85% of your average weekly wage, up to $1,119 a week, for both TDI and Family Leave Insurance.
Can fathers use NJ Family Leave Insurance?
Yes. Family Leave Insurance is for any parent bonding with a new child, so partners can claim their own bonding weeks.
Is my job protected in New Jersey?
The benefit programs pay you; job protection comes from the New Jersey Family Leave Act and the federal FMLA if you are eligible. Check with HR which applies.
Sources
- New Jersey Department of Labor — Family Leave Insurance checked October 13, 2026
- New Jersey Department of Labor — Pregnancy and maternity (TDI and FLI) checked October 13, 2026
- US Department of Labor — Family and Medical Leave Act checked October 13, 2026
- Hamad R et al. Paid Family Leave Effects on Breastfeeding (California and New Jersey). Am J Public Health 2019 (PMID 30359107, DOI 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304693) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.