Can I apply for NY unemployment tourism fund while on regular benefits?
Hi everyone, quick question - I worked at a hotel in Buffalo for 3 years before getting laid off last month. I'm currently receiving regular NY unemployment benefits ($504/week), but someone mentioned there's a special tourism fund for hospitality workers who lost jobs in 2025. Has anyone successfully applied for this while already getting regular unemployment? The NYSDOL website is super confusing about whether you can get both or if one cancels out the other. Any help would be really appreciated!
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Eve Freeman
The NY Tourism Recovery Fund (TRF-2025) is separate from regular unemployment insurance. You can apply while receiving regular benefits, but there are important things to know: 1. If approved, your weekly benefit amount might be adjusted - they won't let you double dip 2. You need to submit Form UI-TRF25 along with proof you worked in tourism for at least 2 years 3. Benefits can be retroactive to January 2025 if you qualify You should definitely apply! The tourism fund provides additional weeks of benefits (up to 13) after your regular UI expires, plus they offer industry retraining grants.
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Val Rossi
•Thank you so much! This is super helpful. Do you know where exactly I can find this Form UI-TRF25? I've been clicking around the website for almost an hour and can't seem to find it anywhere.
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Clarissa Flair
i got the tourism money last month. its not a seprate payment they just add more weeks to ur claim. but u gotta prove u worked in actual tourism not just any hotel. like did u deal with tourists or just local people staying there?
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Val Rossi
•Our hotel was right by Niagara Falls so about 80% of our guests were tourists. We had tour buses come through all the time. Do you think that would qualify? And did you have to provide any specific documentation to prove the tourism connection?
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Caden Turner
The Tourism Recovery Fund is actually quite specific about qualification requirements. You need to have worked at a business where at least 50% of revenue came from tourism activities. Hotels near Niagara Falls typically qualify automatically under section 4.2 of the program guidelines. The form UI-TRF25 isn't on the regular website - it's in your NY.gov account under "Specialized Claims" after you log in. You'll need to upload: - Last year's W-2 - Letter from employer stating tourism percentage (there's a template) - Proof of employment duration (pay stubs from earliest and latest periods work well) The additional 13 weeks don't start until after you exhaust regular UI benefits.
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McKenzie Shade
•This is NOT entirely correct! My sister applied last month and was DENIED even though she worked at a hotel in Lake Placid!!! The "tourism percentage" has to be CERTIFIED by your former employer using Form UI-TRF25-C which is DIFFERENT from the regular application form. If they don't fill it out properly you're SCREWED. The whole thing is set up to make it impossible to qualify!!!
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Harmony Love
I literally just got approved yesterday after waiting 6 weeks. It was such a headache. My advice is call them directly about this - don't trust the website. btw when I tried calling the tourism fund number it was always busy and I wasted like 3 days trying, but i found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in under 5 minutes. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The agent told me hotels by Niagara automatically qualify under the geographic exception rule so you should be good. Just make sure you have that employer letter!
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Val Rossi
•This is so helpful, thank you! I've been trying to call for days with no luck. I'll check out that service and try to get through to someone who can give me the straight answer. 6 weeks seems like a long wait though... was your regular unemployment affected during that time?
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Harmony Love
No problem! My regular benefits kept coming during the whole process, so don't worry about that part. The agent told me they process them separately, and the tourism benefits only kick in after regular UI ends. Calling definitely speeds things up - the online system is a mess right now with all the new programs.
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Rudy Cenizo
Im going thru something similar but with construction seasonal work fund NOT tourism. Its ALL CONFUSING!!! I tried 4 different forms and kept getting rejected. Does anyone know if the seasonal construction fund is similar rules to tourism??? I worked for a road paving company if that matters.
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Eve Freeman
•Construction seasonal work falls under a different program (NY-CSWF). The rules are similar but there are specific differences. Road paving companies usually qualify, but you need to use Form UI-CSW25, not the tourism one. The qualification period is also different - you need to have worked during the primary construction season (April-October) and been laid off during the off-season (November-March).
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Natalie Khan
I got approved for tourism fund but it took FOREVER and the extra 13 weeks didn't start until my regular benefits ran out. Don't expect it to be quick. The whole process is stupid and feels designed to make people give up. Typical NY bureaucracy nightmare.
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Clarissa Flair
•same here! took almost 2 months for me. but at least we got it eventually lol. better than nothing
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Val Rossi
Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I finally was able to get through to an agent using that Claimyr service (it really did work in just a few minutes). The agent confirmed I'm eligible since our hotel was in the Niagara tourism zone, and she helped me find the right forms in my account. Apparently I need both UI-TRF25 and the employer certification form. I've already contacted my former manager to fill out their part. The agent also mentioned that while my application is processing, my regular benefits will continue normally. Once approved, I'll get an extension of 13 weeks after my regular benefits end, plus access to some retraining programs if I want them. I really appreciate all the help from everyone here!
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Caden Turner
•Great to hear! One more tip - keep a copy of everything you submit, including screenshots of confirmations. The system occasionally loses documents, and having your own records can save a lot of headaches if you need to follow up later.
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