The New Jersey Legislature is considering a bill that will prohibit the payment of temporary disability benefits to individuals while they are incarcerated. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and Assemblyman Michael Inganamort of District 24, covering Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties, this measure aims to amend the existing “Temporary Disability Benefits Law,” P.L.1948, c.110.
The proposed legislation specifies that no benefits under the State plan will be payable to any individual during periods of incarceration in any form of penal institution or facility due to criminal violations. This prohibition is part of a broader initiative to refine the allocation of temporary disability benefits within the state.
Key points of the bill include maintaining the initial seven-day waiting period for disability benefit eligibility, with exceptions for continuous three-week disabilities, family temporary disability leave, organ or bone marrow donation, and certain other specified conditions. Additionally, the bill reaffirms the maximum duration of benefits for any one period of disability to 26 weeks.
This legislative action underscores New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to ensure the fair and targeted distribution of temporary disability benefits, aligning financial support with the law-abiding residents of the state. The bill is pre-filed for introduction in the 2024 session, pending further technical review and legislative deliberation.