Are there paid benefits in New Jersey when I have to stop working, including for medical transition?

Last Updated: 08/24/2023

Yes, New Jersey Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits (aka Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance) and New Jersey Earned Sick Leave can benefit eligible transgender and non-binary workers, and their loved ones, during time off work for gender-affirming procedures, including medical transition. These programs can also cover caring for a loved one, including chosen family. For more information on workplace benefits and protections for LGBTQIA+ workers in New Jersey, visit nj.gov/labor/lgbtq.

Temporary Disability Insurance

Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) can provide cash benefits for when you have to stop working to care for your own physical or mental health condition, including gender-affirming procedures. TDI can also provide cash benefits for pregnancy and childbirth recovery.

You can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits, as certified by a medical professional.

Learn more about Temporary Disability Insurance from the NJ Department of Labor.

Family Leave Insurance

Family Leave Insurance (FLI) can provide up to 12 weeks of cash benefits for when you have to stop working to:

  • Care for a loved one, including chosen family, with a physical/mental health condition,
  • Cope with domestic/sexual violence, or
  • Bond with a newborn, newly adopted, or newly placed foster child

Learn more about Family Leave Insurance from the NJ Department of Labor.

Job Protection

Temporary Disability Insurance and Family Leave Insurance are wage replacement programs and they do not provide job protection. However, during the period in which you're receiving these benefits, your job may be protected by New Jersey and/or federal law.

NJ Earned Sick Leave

Employers of all sizes must provide full-time, part-time, and temporary employees with up to 40 hours of earned sick leave per year to care for themselves or a loved one, including chosen family.

This can include:

  • for physical/mental illness or wellness care, including gender-affirming procedures
  • to cope with domestic or sexual violence
  • to attend a meeting at your child's school

Learn more at mysickdays.nj.gov.