
New York Unemployment
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I've been on unemployment for about 4 months now and starting to get some job interviews lined up. I'm confused about when exactly I need to stop filing my weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor. Do I stop as soon as I accept a job offer, or when I actually start working? What if I get a part-time job - can I still collect some benefits? I don't want to mess this up and get hit with an overpayment later.
I'm about to get laid off from my warehouse job next month and trying to figure out if I can survive on unemployment benefits. I was making $18/hour working about 35 hours a week. Does anyone know what percentage of your regular pay the NYS Department of Labor actually gives you? I keep seeing different numbers online and want to know what to expect so I can budget accordingly. Also do they count overtime when calculating your benefit amount?
Just remember the maximum is $504 per week no matter how much you were making. So if you were pulling in $60k+ per year, you're still capped at that amount. It's not really enough to live on for most people which is why you're supposed to be actively looking for work.
Thanks everyone for the helpful info! Just want to add that you can also check your potential benefit amount before filing by using the NYS DOL benefit calculator on their website. It'll give you an estimate based on your wages from the past 18 months. Also, @Liam O'Sullivan make sure you file as soon as you're laid off - there's a one week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks you don't file. The sooner you start the process the better!
My small business is shutting down permanently next month and I need to figure out how to properly close my employer unemployment account with NYS Department of Labor. I've been paying into the system for about 8 years but I'm not sure what steps I need to take to officially close everything out. Do I need to file any final paperwork? What happens to any remaining balance in my account? I want to make sure I don't get hit with penalties or continued billing after we close. Has anyone been through this process before?
WAIT - don't forget about WARN Act requirements if you have more than 50 employees! You need 60 days notice for mass layoffs. Also check if you owe any back taxes before closing.
omg this is exactly what i'm going through right now!! my boutique is closing in january and i have no idea what paperwork i need. following this thread
@Connor Richards Same boat here! From what I m'gathering from this thread, the key steps seem to be: 1 File) final NYS-45 quarterly report, 2 Send) written notice to NYS DOL about closure with final operation date, 3 Make) sure all final wage reports are filed, 4 Pay) any outstanding UI contributions. The tricky part seems to be actually getting through to someone at NYS DOL to confirm everything is properly closed out. Might be worth looking into that Claimyr service Lucy mentioned if their phone system is still a nightmare.
Hey everyone, I'm currently receiving unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor (about $320 weekly) and I'm wondering if I can also apply for SNAP benefits? My rent is $900/month and after utilities I'm barely making it. I heard some people say you can't get both but others told me you can. Does anyone know the actual rules? I'm single with no kids if that matters. Really need help figuring this out because groceries are getting expensive.
@Ellie Perry, definitely apply! I was in a similar situation last year - getting about $350/week in unemployment and qualified for SNAP no problem. Like others mentioned, your UI income counts but $320/week is well under the limits for a single person. One tip: when you apply through myBenefits, have your unemployment determination letter ready since they'll want to see your exact weekly benefit amount. Also, if you're having trouble with rent at $900/month, you might want to look into emergency rental assistance programs too - there are still some COVID relief funds available in certain counties. The whole process was actually easier than dealing with unemployment claims!
I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - getting about $340/week in unemployment and struggling with groceries. Definitely apply for SNAP! The income limits are pretty reasonable for single people, and your $320/week should easily qualify you. When I applied through the myBenefits website, it took about 2.5 weeks to get approved and I ended up getting $194/month in food benefits, which honestly made a huge difference. Just make sure you have your unemployment determination letter handy when you apply - they'll want to see your exact weekly benefit amount. Also, don't let the online application intimidate you - it's actually more straightforward than the unemployment system! One tip: if you get stuck during the application process, try calling the SNAP hotline early in the morning right when they open at 8am - much shorter wait times than later in the day.
@Lily Young This is exactly what I needed to hear! I m'new to navigating all these benefit systems and honestly felt pretty overwhelmed about applying for SNAP on top of dealing with unemployment. Your experience gives me hope that it s'actually manageable. $194/month would be a game changer for my grocery budget right now. Quick question - when you mention the determination letter, is that the same document that shows your weekly benefit amount that you got when your unemployment claim was first approved? I want to make sure I m'looking for the right paperwork before I start the application. Thanks for the tip about calling early too - I ve'learned the hard way that timing makes a huge difference with these government phone lines!
@Yuki Tanaka Yes, that s'exactly the right document! The determination letter is what you get from NYS DOL when your unemployment claim gets approved - it shows your weekly benefit amount, how long your benefits will last, and other key details. It s'usually sent to your online account and also mailed to you. If you can t'find the original, you can log into your NY.gov unemployment account and download a copy from there. The SNAP office just needs to verify your exact benefit amount, so having that letter makes the process much smoother. Good luck with your application - it really does make a difference!
I just got fired from my job yesterday and when I was looking at the NYS Department of Labor website to file my claim, I keep seeing the word 'discharge' everywhere. What exactly does discharge mean for unemployment benefits? Is being discharged the same as being fired? I'm worried this might affect whether I can get approved for UI benefits. The termination paperwork from my employer says I was 'discharged for attendance issues' but I thought I was just being fired for missing too many days. Does the specific wording matter when I file my claim?
Same boat here! Got discharged last week and have no idea what I'm doing with this whole unemployment process. At least now I know discharge = fired, that's helpful.
Hey Sofia, I went through a similar situation last year. "Discharge" is definitely just the formal term for being fired - don't let the legal jargon stress you out. When you file your claim, you'll likely see options like "discharged by employer" or "terminated by employer" which are the same thing. The key thing is being honest about the circumstances. Since you mentioned attendance issues, make sure you have all your documentation ready - any medical notes, HR communications, your employee handbook policies, etc. The NYS Department of Labor will investigate and determine if it was misconduct or not. Even if they initially deny you, you can always appeal with additional evidence. Good luck with your claim!
Liam Fitzgerald
The general rule is you stop when you're no longer unemployed or underemployed. Full-time work = stop filing. Part-time work = keep filing but report everything honestly. NYS Department of Labor is pretty clear about this in their handbook, but I know it can be confusing when you're in the middle of it.
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Freya Thomsen
One thing to add - make sure you understand the difference between "accepting" a job offer and actually starting work. I learned the hard way that you can accept an offer on Monday but if you don't start until the following week, you're still unemployed for that entire week and should file your claim. The key date is when you actually begin working and earning wages, not when you shake hands on the deal. Also, keep all your paperwork (offer letter, start date confirmation, etc.) in case NYS Department of Labor ever needs to verify your timeline.
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