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January 22, 2026
In case you missed it, December 2025 brought important changes to unemployment compensation law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Act 55 of 2025 created an “express lane” for victims of domestic violence seeking unemployment compensation. Specifically, an individual will not be deemed ineligible for unemployment compensation for voluntarily leaving employment or for failing to attend work if, due to a domestic violence situation, the individual’s continued employment would jeopardize the safety of the individual or a member of the individual’s family or household.
To verify a domestic violence situation, an employee may provide any one of the following documents with an initial unemployment compensation application: (1) an active or recently issued protective order or other order, court records, a police record, medical treatment records, social services records, or child protective services records; (2) a statement supporting the existence of recent domestic violence from a qualified professional from whom the individual sought assistance (e.g., counselor, shelter worker, member of the clergy, attorney, health care worker) or from a friend or relative from whom the individual has sought assistance; (3) the individual’s self-affirmation that continued employment would jeopardize the safety of the individual or a member of the individual’s family or household due to a domestic violence situation; or (4) any other type of evidence that reasonably proves domestic violence. The Department of Labor and Industry (“Department”) must keep such documentation confidential and may not disclose the existence of a domestic violence situation in any notice to an employer regarding the individual’s claim for compensation.
If an individual verifies a domestic violence situation and is otherwise eligible for unemployment compensation benefits, the Department will expedite a determination of eligibility.
Pennsylvania Employer Takeaways: Always cooperate with the Department in connection with unemployment compensation claims. And remember that not all voluntary departures will mean denial of unemployment compensation benefits.
Amendments to New Jersey’s Unemployment Compensation Law now require New Jersey employers to report all employee separations – whether by resignation, termination, layoff, or retirement – immediately to the State via the electronic Employer Access portal. This requirement is meant to improve data sharing for quicker benefits processing. Employers who fail to report separations may face penalties.
New Jersey Employer Takeaways: If you are not already registered for Employer Access, do so immediately so that you may begin reporting employee separations.
The author of this article, Patricia Tsipras, is a member of the Bar of Pennsylvania. This article is designed to provide one perspective regarding recent legal developments, and is not intended to serve as legal advice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or any other jurisdiction, nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship with any reader of the article where one does not exist. Always consult an attorney with specific legal issues.
