Can I collect unemployment if I am on social security - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

Yes, you can collect both unemployment and social security in New York, but there are some important rules to follow. The key requirement is that you must be able and available for work to qualify for UI benefits. Since you were working part-time, you've already demonstrated work capability. NYS Department of Labor will need to verify that your disability doesn't prevent you from seeking and accepting suitable work. You'll need to register for work search and complete your weekly claims showing you're actively looking for employment.

I went through this exact situation last year. You can definitely collect both but you have to be careful about the work search requirements. NYS Department of Labor will expect you to look for jobs that you can physically do given your disability. I had to document my job searches every week and explain how the positions were suitable for my limitations. The adjudication process took about 3 weeks because they needed to review my work capacity.

this is so confusing!! i thought if you were disabled you couldnt work at all?? how can you get unemployment if youre on disability??? doesnt that mean you CANT work??

I've been trying to reach NYS Department of Labor for weeks about a similar question and can never get through on the phone. The wait times are insane and I keep getting disconnected. I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was a lifesaver when I needed to verify my eligibility status last month.

The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. They make it so complicated to figure out what you can and can't do. Why can't NYS Department of Labor just have clear guidelines posted somewhere instead of making everyone call and wait for hours?? I've been dealing with adjudication for my claim for over a month now and still no answers.

Just wanted to add that when you file your initial claim, make sure to mention your part-time work history and that you were let go through no fault of your own. This helps establish your work capacity right from the start and might prevent delays in adjudication.

I'm in a very similar situation - collecting SSDI and just lost my part-time job. One thing I learned from my benefits counselor is that you should definitely report your Social Security income when filing your weekly unemployment claims. It won't disqualify you, but NYS Department of Labor needs to know about all income sources. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities that match your disability limitations. I've been documenting not just what jobs I applied for, but also why they were suitable given my restrictions. This documentation has been really helpful when they ask for clarification during the review process.

I was in almost the exact same boat last year! I collect SSDI and was working part-time when my employer had to let me go due to budget cuts. The good news is you absolutely can collect both - I've been doing it successfully. Here's what I learned: When you file your initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, be upfront about your disability and emphasize that you were successfully working part-time, which proves your work capacity. They'll want to see that you can perform some type of work within your limitations. Make sure to report your Social Security income on your weekly claims - it won't reduce your UI benefits dollar-for-dollar, but they need to know about it. The trickiest part was the work search requirement - I had to find jobs that matched my restrictions, but my WIPA counselor helped me understand what types of positions to look for. The whole process took about 4 weeks for approval, but it was worth it. Don't let anyone tell you that being on disability automatically disqualifies you - as long as you can work within your limitations, you're eligible!

I'm currently in this exact situation and have been researching it extensively. One thing I want to add that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of understanding the "work test" that NYS Department of Labor uses for people with disabilities. They don't just look at whether you can work - they evaluate whether you can work in your "customary occupation" or other suitable work given your training and experience. Since you were successfully doing a 20-hour part-time job, that's strong evidence of your work capacity. I'd recommend gathering documentation from your previous employer about your job duties and any accommodations they provided - this can help speed up the adjudication process. Also, when you do your work searches, focus on positions similar to what you were doing before, as these will be considered "suitable work" for your situation. The key is showing consistency between your past work capability and your current job search efforts.