Calculation tool for NJ working? (file, claim, money, UI)

[Scal2010]

http://lwd.state.nj.us/uiapp/Start.html

Is that accurate? When I use that calculation tool I'm getting much, much more money and for much longer than when I use the formula MA has.

Calculating Your Benefit Rate (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Claimants&L2=U nemployment+Insurance+(UI)&L3=How+to+File+Your+Ini tial+Claim&L4=How+Your+Benefits+are+Determined&sid =Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dua_determinations_calc_ benefit_rate&csid=Elwd - broken link)


Can two states be THAT different?

[raymond2]

You haven't given any information to calculate.
In addition to calculating the wages, you have to be sure which weeks or months of employment are in the base year period used by the state you are applying to.

[Ariadne22]

Originally Posted by Scal2010

http://lwd.state.nj.us/uiapp/Start.html

Is that accurate? When I use that calculation tool I'm getting much, much more money and for much longer than when I use the formula MA has.

Calculating Your Benefit Rate (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Claimants&L2=U nemployment+Insurance+%28UI%29&L3=How+to+File+Your +Initial+Claim&L4=How+Your+Benefits+are+Determined &sid=Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dua_determinations_c alc_benefit_rate&csid=Elwd - broken link)


Can two states be THAT different?

Indeed, they can. See this:

Unemployment Benefits Comparison by State | File Unemployment

[raymond2]

She's comparing NJ & MA.
According to her calculations, NJ will pay her significantly more than MA.

MA pays the highest UI benefits in the country so I'm wondering what data she is using for her calculations.

Massachusetts ($628-$942, 72 weeks)
New Jersey ($584, 79 weeks)

[raymond2]

Wait, that website is outdated for MA benefits.

Here's what I googled... MA $625 a week MAX... Less than before but pretty close to NJ $585 a week MAX.

How Much Does Unemployment Pay in Mass? | eHow.com

Maximum Length of Time
As of 2011, Massachusetts offers unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks. Since the maximum benefit amount you can get is $625 per week, you cannot get more than $16,250 total in unemployment benefits. This amount does not include the dependency allowance for children. Since your maximum dependency allowance is half of your weekly benefit amount, you can get a maximum dependency allowance of $312.50 per week, or $8,125 total.

[Scal2010]

I didn't put any info in I just thought people would use their own info to compare and see if it would change.

My problem is with the dates. Since I was self-employed for most of the year, I (so far) only have 2 quarters that I've paid into. I started working in Jan and it looks like they are keeping me until July. So after that, I might file unemployment. When I compare the two states, I get very different numbers because NJ pays 60% verses 50% and they "seem" to have easier base year requirements. I've contacted both states and get standard replies in email. nothing specific to my case.

When I calculated MA, they make me multiply my earnings by .36 which brings down the total amount of benefits they will pay. The total amount of benefits for NJ is almost double for me, which doesn't make sense. It's just unclear to me. ?

I can live in either state so I'm just not sure if I should stay in MA or go back to NJ.

[Scal2010]

Anyone?

Sorry to keep asking I just don't "get" how all of this works. I've always been self-employed.