Can I go on vacation while on unemployment NYS Department of Labor benefits?

You can travel while on unemployment but there are specific rules you need to follow. For NYS Department of Labor benefits, you must remain available for work and continue your job search even while traveling. If you're going out of state for more than a few days, you should report this when filing your weekly claim. The key is being able to accept work if offered.

i went to florida for 2 weeks last year while on UI and didnt report it, nothing happened but probably shouldve been more careful about it

Here's what you need to know: When filing your weekly claim, answer honestly about your availability. If you're visiting family but still able to work (meaning you could return for an interview or start a job), then you're technically available. However, if you're somewhere remote with no cell service or internet for job searching, that's different. Document your job search activities while traveling - apply to remote positions or jobs you could start after returning.

Wait, I'm confused about this too. Does NYS Department of Labor track where you are when you file your weekly claim? How would they even know if someone went on vacation??

I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact situation last month. Their phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent I spoke with confirmed that short trips are usually fine as long as you remain available for work.

Just make sure you're still doing your required job search activities while you're away. NYS Department of Labor requires proof of work search efforts, so keep track of any applications you submit or networking you do during your trip.

I'd recommend calling NYS Department of Labor directly to get official guidance on your specific situation. While the general rule is that you need to remain available for work, there can be nuances depending on the length of your trip and your circumstances. Document everything - your travel dates, continued job search efforts, and any communication with the department. Also consider whether you could realistically start a job immediately if offered one while you're away visiting family.

Just wanted to share my experience - I took a 5-day trip to see my sister in Pennsylvania while on unemployment last year. I called ahead and spoke with a NYS Department of Labor representative who told me the key things are: 1) Answer the weekly certification questions honestly about your availability, 2) Continue your job search requirements even while traveling, 3) Be prepared to return quickly if you get a job offer. I kept applying to jobs online during my trip and made sure I had reliable internet access. No issues with my benefits at all. The important thing is being transparent and maintaining your job search efforts rather than treating it like a complete vacation from looking for work.

Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like the main thing is being honest on your weekly claims and maintaining your job search. I'm in a similar situation planning a trip soon. One thing I'm wondering about - if you're traveling somewhere with a different time zone, does that affect your ability to be "available for work"? Like if a potential employer in NY calls during business hours but you're on the west coast, would that be an issue? Also, has anyone had experience with virtual interviews while traveling? I'm thinking I should probably let any potential employers know my travel dates upfront if I'm in active interview processes.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago when I wanted to visit my parents in North Carolina for 10 days. After reading through all the conflicting advice online, I decided to be completely upfront with NYS Department of Labor. I called their customer service line (took several attempts to get through) and explained my situation. The representative told me that as long as I could maintain my job search requirements and remain genuinely available for work, short-term travel was acceptable. The key points they emphasized were: 1) Continue filing weekly claims honestly, 2) Keep detailed records of job search activities during travel, 3) Be prepared to return immediately for interviews or job offers, and 4) Have reliable communication access. I ended up having a great trip, kept applying to remote positions daily, and even had a phone interview while there. My benefits continued without any issues. The peace of mind from getting official guidance was definitely worth the effort of calling ahead.

As someone who's been through the unemployment system in NY, I'd add one more important tip - make sure to save screenshots or documentation of your job applications while traveling. I kept a simple spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, and dates during my family trip last summer. NYS Department of Labor can request proof of your work search activities during audits, and having everything organized made me feel much more confident. Also, consider setting up job alerts on your phone so you don't miss any opportunities that match your skills while you're away. The mobile apps for most job sites work pretty well for quick applications when you have downtime during your visit.

I'm in a similar boat planning to visit my grandmother in Florida next month while on unemployment. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful - it sounds like the consensus is to be proactive and transparent with NYS Department of Labor. I'm planning to call them before I travel to get official guidance, keep detailed records of my job search activities while I'm there, and make sure I have reliable internet for potential interviews. The advice about treating it as a working trip rather than a vacation from job searching really resonates with me. Has anyone had experience with the mobile hotspot situation if you're staying somewhere with spotty internet? I want to make sure I can maintain consistent access for applications and potential calls.

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who traveled while on unemployment in NY last year. The most important thing I learned is that NYS Department of Labor really focuses on your intent and availability rather than your physical location. When I visited my brother in Chicago for a week, I made sure to: 1) Continue my daily job search routine from his apartment, 2) Keep my phone on and available during business hours, 3) Apply to remote positions that I could start immediately, and 4) Be honest on my weekly certification about being available for work. I even scheduled a video interview while I was there and mentioned to the employer that I was visiting family but could start immediately if selected. The key is maintaining your professional obligations while traveling, not treating it as a break from your job search. As long as you can genuinely say "yes" to being available for work on your weekly claim, you should be fine. Just document everything and be prepared to explain your situation if ever questioned.

I'm actually dealing with this same situation right now - planning to visit my parents in California for about 10 days while on NYS unemployment benefits. After reading through all these helpful experiences, I feel much more confident about how to handle it properly. The consistent advice seems to be: call NYS Department of Labor ahead of time for official guidance, maintain your job search requirements while traveling, document everything, and be honest on your weekly certifications. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about mobile hotspots, keeping spreadsheets of applications, and being upfront with potential employers about travel dates. It's reassuring to see so many people who've successfully navigated this by treating it as a working trip rather than a vacation from job searching. I'll definitely be following the approach of applying to remote positions and making sure I'm genuinely available for work throughout my visit. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the official guidelines alone!

I went through this exact same worry when I needed to visit my sick father in Texas for a week while on unemployment last year. After reading horror stories online about people losing benefits, I was terrified to travel. But I followed the advice many have shared here - called NYS Department of Labor directly, was completely transparent, and treated it as a working trip. I set up my laptop at my dad's house, applied to jobs daily (focusing on remote positions), and even took a phone screening while I was there. The representative I spoke with was actually very understanding and emphasized that family emergencies and short visits are common situations they deal with. My benefits continued without any interruption. The key really is maintaining that genuine availability for work and continuing your search efforts. Don't let anxiety about the rules prevent you from seeing family - just do it the right way by being proactive and honest with the department.

This entire thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who's been hesitant to visit my elderly grandparents while on unemployment, reading everyone's real experiences has given me the confidence to plan a proper trip. The consistent message across all these stories is clear: NYS Department of Labor is reasonable when you're transparent and maintain your job search obligations. I'm going to follow the proven formula everyone has shared - call ahead for official guidance, treat it as a working trip with daily applications (especially remote positions), document everything thoroughly, and be honest on weekly certifications. It's particularly helpful to see that multiple people have successfully had phone/video interviews while traveling and that the department understands family visits are normal life situations. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this kind of real-world guidance is so much more useful than trying to interpret the official rules alone!

This whole discussion has been incredibly reassuring! I was stressed about a similar situation - planning to visit my sister in Oregon for 8 days while on unemployment. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm convinced the key is being proactive and treating it like a working vacation. I'm going to call NYS Department of Labor this week to get official guidance, set up a mobile hotspot for reliable internet, and create a spreadsheet to track my job applications while I'm there. The fact that so many people have successfully maintained their benefits while traveling for family visits, and even conducted interviews remotely, shows that the department is reasonable when you follow the proper steps. I especially appreciate the advice about applying to remote positions and being upfront with potential employers about travel dates. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's made me feel confident about doing this the right way rather than avoiding family time out of fear!

I'm currently on NYS unemployment benefits and planning to visit my parents in Pennsylvania for about 6 days next month. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! The consistent message seems to be that NYS Department of Labor is understanding as long as you're transparent and maintain your job search requirements. I'm planning to follow the proven approach many of you have shared: call the department ahead of time for official guidance, continue applying to jobs daily (especially remote positions), keep detailed documentation of all applications, and ensure I have reliable internet access for potential interviews. It's really encouraging to see so many successful examples of people maintaining their benefits while visiting family. The key insight about treating it as a "working trip" rather than a vacation from job searching really helps frame the right mindset. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this thread has given me the confidence to visit my parents without fear of jeopardizing my benefits, as long as I do it responsibly!

I'm so grateful this thread exists! I'm currently on NYS unemployment benefits and was really anxious about visiting my family in Vermont for a long weekend next month. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences has completely put my mind at ease. The consistent pattern I'm seeing is that as long as you're proactive, honest, and maintain your job search obligations, NYS Department of Labor is very reasonable about short family trips. I love the advice about treating it as a "working trip" - that really helps reframe the whole situation. I'm definitely going to call the department before I travel to get their official guidance, set up reliable internet access, and keep applying to remote positions while I'm there. It's also smart to document everything and be prepared to explain your situation if needed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences - this kind of practical advice from people who've actually been through it is invaluable for those of us navigating unemployment for the first time!