Can I get unemployment if I only worked 2 months in New York - NYS Department of Labor eligibility?
I started a new job in October and got laid off last week due to company downsizing. I only worked there for about 2 months before they let me go. I'm wondering if I can even qualify for unemployment benefits with such a short work history? I did work at another place earlier this year for about 6 months but that was back in the spring. Does NYS Department of Labor look at all my work from the past year or just my most recent job? I'm really confused about how the base period thing works and whether 2 months is enough to qualify for anything.
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Mae Bennett
You might still qualify! NYS Department of Labor looks at your entire base period, not just your most recent job. The base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you worked 6 months earlier this year plus your recent 2 months, that could be enough earnings to establish a claim. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period.
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Pedro Sawyer
•Oh that's helpful! So they would count both jobs together? I made decent money at both places so hopefully that adds up to enough.
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Beatrice Marshall
yeah i only worked like 3 months last year and still got approved, you should definitely apply and see what happens. worst case they say no but at least you'll know for sure
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Melina Haruko
The key thing is meeting the monetary requirements. In New York, you typically need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period, with at least $1,300 in your highest quarter. If your 6 months of work plus 2 months adds up to those amounts, you should be eligible. File your claim online through my.ny.gov and they'll calculate everything for you.
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Pedro Sawyer
•Thanks! I think I definitely made more than that between both jobs. Going to file tomorrow.
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Dallas Villalobos
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to ask similar questions about my eligibility. If you run into issues or need to speak with someone about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Reina Salazar
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they charge you a lot to use it?
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Dallas Villalobos
•It was worth it for me to avoid the phone hassle, but honestly you might not even need to call if your case is straightforward like the OP's sounds.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
The unemployment system is SO confusing with all these base period calculations. I swear they make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from applying. Just apply anyway - the worst they can do is deny you and then you can appeal if you think they made a mistake.
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Isaiah Cross
Don't let the complexity discourage you from applying! I was in a similar situation where I had worked at two different places within the year and wasn't sure if it would count. The online application at my.ny.gov actually walks you through entering all your employment history from the past 18 months, and their system automatically calculates whether you meet the requirements. You'll need your employer information, dates worked, and gross wages for each job. Since you have 8 months total of work history this year, you're likely in good shape as long as your combined earnings hit those thresholds that Melina mentioned.
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Malik Johnson
•That's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through a similar situation! I was worried about having gaps between jobs or whether they'd count everything properly, but it sounds like the online system is pretty thorough. Did you end up getting approved with your multiple jobs from the same year?
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Faith Kingston
•Yes, I did get approved! The system counted all my work from different employers within the base period. The key was having all my employment documentation ready - pay stubs, W-2s, and exact dates of employment. Even though I had worked for three different companies that year with some gaps in between, as long as the total earnings met the minimum requirements, it all counted toward my eligibility. The automated calculation took care of figuring out which quarters had the highest earnings too.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
Pedro, based on what you've described, you should definitely apply! With 6 months of work earlier this year plus your recent 2 months, you likely have enough work history to qualify. The NYS Department of Labor will look at your entire base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) when determining eligibility. Since you were laid off due to company downsizing and didn't quit voluntarily, you should meet the separation requirements too. Make sure you have all your employment information handy - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and your gross wages from both jobs. The online application will guide you through everything and automatically calculate if you meet the monetary requirements.
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