Can I collect unemployment until I start my new job - NYS Department of Labor question
I got hired for a position that starts in about 3 weeks and I'm wondering if I can keep collecting my unemployment benefits until then? I've been getting my weekly payments from NYS Department of Labor for the past 2 months after getting laid off. The job offer is solid but there's this gap between now and when I actually start working. Do I need to stop filing my weekly claims right away or can I continue until my actual start date? I don't want to mess anything up with my claim status.
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Sophia Clark
You can continue collecting unemployment benefits until your actual start date as long as you remain able and available for work. When you file your weekly claim, you'll answer honestly about your job search activities and any work offers. The key is that you're still unemployed until you actually begin working. Make sure to report the job offer when prompted in your weekly certification - NYS Department of Labor wants transparency about your employment status.
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Ryan Young
•Thanks! So I should mention the job offer in my weekly filing but I can still collect until I actually start?
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Katherine Harris
yeah I did this same thing last year when I had a 2 week gap, kept getting my benefits until the first day of work
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Madison Allen
Wait I'm confused about this too - what if the job falls through? Like what if they change their mind or something happens before I start? I have a job lined up for next month but I'm worried about reporting it and then losing both the job AND my unemployment if something goes wrong.
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Sophia Clark
•That's exactly why NYS Department of Labor allows you to continue benefits until your actual start date. If the job falls through before you begin working, you can continue your claim normally. Just be honest in your weekly certifications about your status.
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Joshua Wood
The official rule is you're eligible for unemployment as long as you're unemployed and meet the weekly requirements. Having a future job offer doesn't disqualify you from current benefits. I had a similar situation where I accepted a position but had to wait for background checks and onboarding - collected benefits the whole time without any issues. Just don't try to collect after you've actually started working, that's when problems happen.
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Justin Evans
Ugh the NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible if you need to ask them directly about this stuff. I spent 4 hours trying to get through last week about a different question and kept getting disconnected. Someone on here mentioned using claimyr.com to actually reach an agent - apparently they have some system that gets you through the phone queue. Might be worth checking out if you want official confirmation, there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
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Emily Parker
•really? never heard of that before but honestly anything beats sitting on hold for hours
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Ezra Collins
this is why the unemployment system is so messed up, people trying to game it by collecting when they already have jobs lined up...
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Joshua Wood
•It's not gaming the system - they're still unemployed until they actually start working. There's often gaps between job offers and start dates for legitimate reasons like background checks, training schedules, or company hiring processes.
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Evelyn Martinez
I'm in a similar boat right now - got a job offer that starts in 2 weeks and wasn't sure about the benefits situation. From what I understand, you're technically still unemployed until your first day of work, so you should be able to continue collecting. I've been reporting my job search activities honestly in my weekly claims and plan to mention the offer when it asks about employment prospects. The important thing seems to be that you stop filing once you actually begin working, not just when you accept an offer. Has anyone had issues with NYS Department of Labor questioning this approach?
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