honestly just do both lol, why risk it? file every week and look for jobs every week its not that complicated

I think what's MOST associated with unemployment is the stress and anxiety of dealing with the whole system! Between adjudication delays, confusing letters, and trying to reach someone on the phone, it's exhausting. But yeah, practically speaking, you need both the weekly claims and job search.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your eligibility, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it when I had questions about my claim status and got through in like 10 minutes instead of calling for hours.

i got unemployment as a green card holder no problems at all just file online like everyone else

i got like $380 a week when i was on unemployment last year, was making similar to you. took about 2 weeks to get my first payment but then it was pretty regular after that

Make sure you have all your employment history ready when you file - they'll ask for details about your last 18 months of work. If you worked multiple jobs or had gaps, have explanations ready. The more complete info you give upfront, the less likely your claim will get flagged for adjudication review.

One thing that really helped me was connecting with other people in similar situations. There are actually some good networking groups for unemployed professionals in the NYC area, and many meet virtually now. It helps to talk to people who understand what you're going through instead of just family members who mean well but don't really get it. Also, if you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor for any claim issues, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to agents when the phone lines are jammed. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.

Been there and it sucks but it does get better!! What helped me was treating job searching like a part-time job - work on it in the morning when I had the most energy, then give myself permission to do other things in the afternoon. I also kept a journal of small wins - even if it was just 'applied to 3 jobs today' or 'updated my resume.' Those little accomplishments add up and help you see progress even when you're not getting interviews yet.

The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a joke! They make it so complicated just to get YOUR OWN MONEY that you paid into the system. Half the time their website crashes when you're trying to file your weekly claim and then they act like it's your fault when payments get delayed.

Just to clarify for everyone - unemployment checks are really unemployment payments now since most people use direct deposit. The payment amount is based on your earnings history over the past 18 months, with a maximum weekly benefit of $504 in NY for 2025. You can receive these payments for up to 26 weeks as long as you continue to meet the job search requirements and file your weekly claims on time.