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I struggled with getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify this exact question when I filed last year. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone, I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process much less stressful when I could actually talk to someone who explained how the multi-employer situation works.
Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call for days but keep getting the busy signal.
Just want to add that having multiple employers might actually help your benefit calculation since NYS Department of Labor looks at your total earnings. As long as you meet the minimum wage requirements during your base period, you should be fine. The main thing is making sure you were separated from your last job for a qualifying reason.
That's a really good point about multiple employers potentially helping with the benefit calculation! @Isabella Ferreira since you mentioned your two jobs together made decent income, you might actually be in better shape than you think for qualifying.
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Just want to add that you'll still need to do job search activities even with partial unemployment. The requirements are the same whether you're getting full or partial benefits. Keep track of your job contacts because NYS Department of Labor can ask for your job search log at any time.
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One more important thing - if you're doing freelance or gig work, you need to report that income in the week you performed the work, not when you got paid. This trips up a lot of people with unemployment claims.
This is such an important point that I wish the NYS Department of Labor made clearer! I made this mistake early on with some consulting work - I reported the income when I got paid two weeks later instead of when I actually did the work. Ended up having to call and straighten it out, which was a nightmare given how hard it is to reach someone. For anyone doing gig work, keep detailed records of when you actually performed the work, not just when payment hit your account.
Just want to add that if you're consistently earning close to or over your benefit amount, it might be worth considering whether to pause your unemployment claim temporarily. I had a few good weeks where I was making decent money from freelance work, and it made more sense to just not certify for those weeks rather than deal with the reduced benefits and potential complications. You can always resume your claim later as long as you're still within your benefit year. Just make sure to understand the rules about when you need to reopen vs. continue your existing claim.
You just skip certifying for those weeks - there's no formal "pause" process. When you don't certify, that week just doesn't count toward your benefit year total. But be careful because if you skip too many weeks (I think it's 4 consecutive weeks in NY), your claim becomes inactive and you'll need to reopen it, which can be a hassle. I usually skip certification when I know I'm going to earn more than my weekly benefit amount anyway. Just make sure to start certifying again as soon as your income drops back down. The key is keeping track of your benefit year end date - you don't want to run out of time to collect your remaining benefits.
@0e1d091045f1 might have better details, but from what I understand you just don't certify for those weeks when you're earning too much. The key is being strategic about it - if you know you're going to make more than your weekly benefit amount, it often makes sense to skip certification rather than get $0 and still have to report all that income. Just make sure you restart certification as soon as your earnings drop back down. I think you can skip several weeks without issues as long as you're within your benefit year, but definitely double-check the NYS Department of Labor guidelines on this.
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For future reference (or for anyone else reading this thread), here's what everyone should know about NY unemployment timing: 1. File immediately after job loss - benefits start from filing date, not job loss date 2. There's a mandatory unpaid waiting week after filing (first week is never paid) 3. File your weekly claim certifications on time, even if your initial application is still pending 4. If you have a legitimate reason for late filing, request backdating immediately 5. Keep records of all attempts to file, including screenshots of errors The system definitely favors those who understand these rules from the beginning.
dont forget they also take taxes out unless u opt out! and the website crashes every sunday when everyones trying to certify lol
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - waited almost 2 months to file because I thought I'd find something quickly. Big mistake! NY DOL was pretty firm that they don't backdate for "I didn't know I should file right away" situations. However, I did manage to get ONE extra week backdated because I had saved a screenshot of a website error I got when I first tried to file (even though I gave up and didn't try again for weeks). So if you have ANY documentation of technical issues, website crashes, or even confusing information you received, gather it all before calling. The harsh reality is that most of those 3 months are probably lost, but it's still worth that phone call with whatever documentation you can pull together. Good luck!
Mateo Hernandez
The system is so confusing about who can and can't get benefits. I've heard different things from different people but sounds like as long as you're legal to work you should be fine. Good luck with your claim!
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Elijah Knight
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - also a permanent resident who got laid off from a manufacturing job. Yes, you are definitely eligible! The key thing is that you've been paying into the unemployment insurance system through your payroll taxes, which gives you the right to collect benefits regardless of citizenship status. When you file your claim online, they'll ask about your work authorization but having a green card fully satisfies that requirement. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - permanent residents have the same UI rights as citizens as long as you meet the work and wage requirements. File your claim as soon as possible since there can be waiting periods.
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