Can I go to school while on unemployment in New York?
I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks now and I'm thinking about going back to school to get some new skills. My friend said I can't do this while getting benefits but I'm not sure if that's true. Does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor allows you to attend classes while still filing weekly claims? I don't want to mess up my benefits but I also don't want to waste this time just sitting around.
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Oliver Weber
You can go to school while on unemployment in NY but there are specific rules you need to follow. You still have to be able and available for work, which means you can't be in a full-time program that would prevent you from accepting a job. Part-time classes or online courses are usually fine. You also still need to do your job search activities and report them on your weekly claim.
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Amina Diop
•Thanks! So if I take evening classes that wouldn't interfere with a day job, that should be okay? I'm looking at a part-time certificate program.
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Natasha Romanova
be careful about this - i went to school and they made me pay back like $2000 because they said i wasnt available for work even though i was only taking 2 classes
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Oliver Weber
•That sounds like there might have been other factors involved. NYS Department of Labor usually allows part-time education as long as you're still actively seeking work and available to start a job immediately.
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NebulaNinja
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about this exact situation. If you need to speak with someone directly about your specific program, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Amina Diop
•How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money with just the unemployment benefits.
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NebulaNinja
•It's worth checking out their site for pricing info. For me it was better than never getting through to anyone at all.
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Javier Gomez
Wait, I'm confused about the job search requirement. If I'm in school, do I still need to apply to 3 jobs per week? What if my classes are during normal business hours - how do I prove I'm available for work?
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Oliver Weber
•Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements. You can apply for evening or weekend positions, or jobs that start after your program ends. The key is showing you're genuinely seeking work and would be available to start if offered a position.
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Emma Wilson
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They want you to find work but then make it hard to improve your skills to actually GET better work. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and they change their story every time I call.
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Malik Thomas
•I hear you on the frustration but the education rules are actually pretty reasonable if you understand them. Just have to make sure you're still meeting the work search requirements.
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Sophia Carter
I went through this exact situation last year. You CAN attend school while on unemployment in NY, but you need to be strategic about it. I enrolled in a part-time evening program and made sure to document that I was available for work during normal business hours. The key things: 1) Keep doing your job searches and applying to positions, 2) Be honest on your weekly certifications about your availability, and 3) Make sure your class schedule doesn't conflict with potential work opportunities. I actually ended up getting a better job because of the skills I learned while on unemployment. Just don't try to hide it - be upfront with DOL if they ask about your activities.
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Sarah Jones
•This is really helpful advice, thank you @Sophia Carter! I'm glad to hear someone actually made it work successfully. Your point about being upfront with DOL is important - I was worried about mentioning school at all on my weekly claims. Did you specifically tell them about your program when you certified each week, or just make sure you answered the availability questions honestly? And congrats on getting a better job from the skills you gained!
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Serene Snow
I'm currently in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. From what I've learned, New York does allow you to attend school while collecting unemployment, but you need to be very careful about how you handle it. The main requirement is that you must remain "able and available" for work. This means if an employer calls you for an interview or job offer, you need to be able to accept it immediately. I'd recommend calling the Department of Labor directly to discuss your specific program before enrolling - each situation can be different depending on the type of classes, schedule, and duration. Better to get official guidance upfront than risk having to pay benefits back later. Also consider looking into whether your program might qualify for any workforce development programs that could provide additional support while you're transitioning.
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