I'm a caseworker with NYS Department of Labor and wanted to confirm what others have said - yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment at 17! Since you worked for 8 months with taxes deducted, you should meet the monetary eligibility requirements. When you file online at ny.gov, you'll need your Social Security number, employment dates, employer information, and reason for separation. The system treats all claimants the same regardless of age. One thing I'd emphasize is to be completely honest about your availability for work - since you mentioned you got your GED and can work more hours, that should work in your favor. Make sure to file your weekly certifications on time and keep detailed records of your job search activities. The process really is straightforward, and you've earned these benefits through your work contributions. Don't hesitate to reach out to the office if you have questions during the process!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who filed for unemployment at 17 last summer! The whole process was much smoother than I expected. I had worked at a grocery store for about 6 months before getting laid off due to budget cuts. Like others mentioned, the online application at ny.gov was really straightforward - it took me maybe 30-45 minutes to complete. My biggest advice is to make sure you have your last employer's information handy (exact business name, address, dates of employment) because the system is pretty specific about that stuff. Also, don't stress too much about the monetary requirements - if you worked consistently and had taxes taken out like you did, you'll almost certainly qualify. My weekly benefit amount wasn't huge since I hadn't been working that long, but it definitely helped cover gas money and other expenses while I job hunted. The approval process took about 10 days for me, and then I just had to do the weekly certifications online every Sunday. Really glad to see another young person taking charge of their situation - you've got this!

The whole system is a mess honestly. I filed my claim 6 months ago and STILL dealing with issues. They make it sound easy but then your claim gets stuck in adjudication for weeks with no explanation. The NYS Department of Labor is understaffed and overwhelmed. Good luck getting anyone on the phone who actually knows what they're talking about. Half the time they give you different information depending on who you talk to.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I got laid off from my job in Albany. The good news is that NY really did eliminate the waiting week, so you can get benefits starting from your first week of unemployment. I filed my claim on a Wednesday and got my first payment 2.5 weeks later. The most important thing is to file your initial claim ASAP - you can do it online at labor.ny.gov. With your salary of $45k, you should qualify for a decent weekly benefit amount. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications even while waiting for approval, and don't forget to report any part-time work or income. The process isn't as scary as some people make it sound if your case is straightforward like a layoff.

UGH don't even get me started on the unemployment system. I swear they approve claims they shouldn't just to avoid doing the work to investigate properly. Had an employee quit without notice, claim they were "constructively dismissed" and somehow got approved for benefits. Cost me thousands in increased premiums.

Another cost to factor in is that NYS also charges employers for disability benefits (DBL) and paid family leave (PFL) on top of unemployment insurance. For 2025, DBL is 0.5% on wages up to $142.80 per year per employee, and PFL is about 0.511% capped around $385 annually per employee. So your total payroll tax burden for these programs combined will be higher than just the UI rate. Make sure you're budgeting for all three when calculating your labor costs!

just file and see what happens, worst they can do is say no

The able and available requirement is really strict though. I've seen people get disqualified for way less. You better have a solid plan for what types of jobs you can actually do and be ready to prove you're actively searching for them. NYS Department of Labor doesn't mess around with this stuff.

My cousin works at NYSDOL (not in claims processing) and she says they're still super understaffed in 2025. The pandemic backlog never fully cleared and then the new recession hit. They prioritize cases flagged by elected officials because there's accountability there. So going through your senator/assembly member is legitimately the fastest track. The phone system can only handle a fraction of the incoming calls.

This is incredibly helpful info, thank you! I've been stuck in pending for almost 2 months now with no progress through normal channels. Quick question - when you emailed your senator, did you send it to their general contact email or is there a specific email for unemployment/constituent services? Also, how long did it take them to respond to your initial email? I'm going to try this approach but want to make sure I'm doing it right!