Utilization of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance in New Jersey: Evidence from Administrative Data, 2020-2025

• In Event: Paid Leave as Health Policy: Program Design, Uptake, and Health Impacts

Abstract

State-administered paid leave programs are central to supporting workers’ health and caregiving needs, yet evidence on their use remains limited, particularly from an equity perspective. Given that New Jersey has one of the longest-standing state paid leave programs in the U.S., this paper examines utilization of its Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI) from 2020 through 2025 using state administrative data.

We analyze participation patterns in the two programs, with attention to variation across demographic, employer, and regional groups. The analysis highlights changes following COVID-19 and subsequent policy adjustments, including expanded outreach initiatives and changes to the application process. We examine utilization of the programs to understand who participates relative to eligible populations in the state, assessing whether estimated uptake rates differ by individual, employer, or regional characteristics. To ground these results in the frontline realities of program delivery, we are conducting regression analyses to assess how, if at all, utilization and uptake have changed in response to policy and process changes implemented between 2020 and 2025.

Preliminary findings suggest substantial growth in family leave utilization alongside more modest changes in temporary disability claims, with variation across groups. While overall access has improved, our results suggest that inequities remain in program uptake. The analysis further identifies administrative and labor market factors associated with differential take-up, including county unemployment rates and employer characteristics. Policy implications from these results will focus on identifying populations and places that may benefit from targeted outreach, industries that may need additional information on leave programs, and administrative processes that may need further improvement.

By providing a contemporary data-driven portrait of paid leave utilization in one of the nation’s leading state programs, this paper contributes to ongoing policy debates about program design, outreach, and equity. The findings offer insights to guide future research questions and actionable recommendations for policymakers and administrators seeking to expand access to paid leave programs in New Jersey and beyond.

Authors

• Rebecca Logue-Conroy, Rutgers University
  Presenting Author

• Andrea Hetling, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Emily A Parker, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Stephanie Walsh, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
  Non-Presenting Co-Author

• Kirsten Meidlinger, Rutgers University - New Brunswick
  Non-Presenting Co-Author