I went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my electrical work making around $1900/week. Like others said, you'll probably hit the max benefit of $504/week which is rough when you're used to much higher income. The important thing is to file immediately - don't wait! I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking I might get called back, and you can't backdate benefits before your filing date. Also make sure you have all your pay stubs ready because NYS Department of Labor will ask for documentation. The whole process takes a few weeks to get your first payment, so the sooner you start the better. Good luck man, I know it's stressful but it does help bridge the gap while you're job hunting.

I'm in a similar boat - just got laid off from my plumbing job where I was making around $1800/week. From what I've researched, NYS Department of Labor has a pretty straightforward online application process. You'll need your SSN, employment history for the past 18 months, and reason for separation. The system will automatically calculate your benefit amount based on your base period wages (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). Even though the $504 max seems low compared to what we were making, it's still important income while job searching. I filed mine yesterday and the process took about 30 minutes online. Don't stress too much about the exact calculation - just get your claim started ASAP since every day you wait is money lost.

I'm having this exact same problem! Just tried to certify this morning and couldn't find that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button anywhere. The email instructions are completely outdated - it's so frustrating! Based on all the helpful responses here, I just tried: 1. Clicking "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main dashboard 2. Looking for "Claim Weekly Benefits" as a regular text link (not the big button the email describes) 3. Using Chrome instead of Safari Finally found it! The "Claim Weekly Benefits" link is buried in the services list under Unemployment Services - nothing like what the email instructions say. It's ridiculous that NY DOL redesigned their whole website but never updated the email templates. Thanks to everyone who shared the actual working steps - this thread saved me hours of confusion! The disconnect between their emails and the real website is honestly embarrassing for a government agency.

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating issue! Just tried to certify this morning and spent over 30 minutes looking for that "Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here" button mentioned in the email - it's nowhere to be found on the actual website. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I just tried the solution that everyone's recommending: 1. Log into labor.ny.gov 2. Click "UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES" from the main dashboard 3. Scroll down and look for "Claim Weekly Benefits" - it appears as a plain text link buried in the services list, NOT the big prominent button described in the emails 4. Make sure to use Chrome or Firefox for best compatibility It worked perfectly! The link was exactly where everyone said it would be under the Unemployment Services section. The email instructions are completely misleading - they're describing a website interface that clearly doesn't exist anymore. It's honestly mind-boggling that NY DOL can completely redesign their website but can't be bothered to update simple email templates that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers depend on every single week. This disconnect is causing so much unnecessary stress and confusion for people already dealing with unemployment challenges. This community thread has been infinitely more helpful than any official documentation from NY DOL. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share the actual working steps - you're literally saving fellow New Yorkers hours of frustration and helping people get their benefits when they need them most! 🙏

good luck with your claim! nonprofit work is so important and its ridiculous that anyone would think those workers dont deserve the same benefits

I can confirm this from personal experience! I worked at a nonprofit health clinic for 4 years and when they had budget cuts, I was able to collect unemployment without any issues. The NYS Department of Labor treated it exactly like any other employer. The key thing is that nonprofits with 4+ employees are required to pay unemployment taxes just like for-profit businesses. Your food bank definitely would have been paying into the system. Don't let anyone discourage you from filing - you earned those benefits!

To clarify the main points: You can travel while collecting unemployment as long as you remain able and available for work. For a short trip like a wedding, you don't need to notify NYS Department of Labor. Just be honest on your weekly certification about your availability. If you're only gone for 2-3 days and could have accepted work if offered, you should be fine to certify normally for that week.

I just wanted to add that I've been dealing with this same situation - I'm on unemployment and had to travel for a funeral last month. What I learned is that the key question on your weekly certification is whether you were "able and available for work" each day. If you're only gone for a weekend wedding and would have been able to accept a job offer if one came up, you can still answer "yes" to that question. The NYS Department of Labor cares more about your willingness and ability to work than your exact geographic location for short trips. Just don't try to claim benefits for days when you genuinely weren't available. Have a great time at your sister's wedding!

I actually just helped my roommate through this exact situation last month! She was a senior working part-time at a retail store and got her hours cut to basically nothing. She was super worried about the student thing too, but she got approved without any major issues. The biggest thing that helped her was keeping really detailed records of her work schedule alongside her class schedule for the past year - it showed she'd been successfully managing both for a long time. She also made sure to apply online first thing in the morning when the system was less busy, then followed up with the phone interview. The whole process took about 3.5 weeks from application to first payment. One tip she shared was to be really specific about your availability in hours (like "Monday 8am-6pm, Wednesday 12pm-10pm" etc.) rather than just saying "I can work around classes." NYS Department of Labor wants to see concrete proof that you have substantial time available for employment. Since you've been doing 25 hours/week for two years, you're in great shape! Don't stress too much about it.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who successfully collected unemployment as a student in NY! I was working at a bookstore while finishing my degree and lost my job due to store closure. The application process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood what they were looking for. The key things that helped me: 1) I emphasized my consistent work history while enrolled (similar to your situation with 2 years of steady employment), 2) I provided specific available hours rather than vague statements about flexibility, and 3) I kept detailed records of my job search efforts focused on positions that matched my schedule and experience. NYS Department of Labor did ask about my class schedule during the phone interview, but they were mainly interested in confirming I had genuine availability for work. Since you're graduating soon and have been successfully balancing 25 hours/week with coursework, you should have no problem demonstrating both your work history and availability. The process took about 4 weeks for me, but it was worth it for the financial support during my final semester. Don't let the student status worry you - you've earned these benefits through your contributions!