Can I still collect New York Unemployment if I move to another state?

Yes you can collect from another state! I moved to Florida last year and kept getting my NY benefits. Just make sure you update your address in the system and continue to certify weekly. You still have to follow NY rules about job searches tho.

I found a way to actually get someone on the phone at unemployment to confirm this. Used claimyr.com - its this service that calls and waits on hold then connects you when someone picks up. Costs $20 but worth it to get a clear answer. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Make sure you keep detailed records of your job search activities. NY unemployment is pretty strict about that and they sometimes ask for proof even months later.

Listen up - heres everything you need to know about collecting NY unemployment from another state: 1. You CAN collect from anywhere in the US 2. Must update your address immediately 3. Keep certifying weekly like normal 4. Follow NY work search requirements (3 activities per week) 5. Keep your NY bank account until payments are coming normally 6. Document EVERYTHING If you need to speak with someone to confirm, use claimyr.com - they'll get you through to an agent fast. Source: Moved to Texas last year, still collecting no problem

bruh i moved to jersey and they straight up ghosted my payments for 3 weeks until i got someone on the phone smh

quick tip: dont change ur address until the move is 100% complete. saw ppl get locked out of there accounts for updating too early

Just wanted to add - if you're moving for a job that didn't work out, you might still be eligible to continue benefits. I moved to Virginia for a position that ended up being eliminated after 2 weeks and NY unemployment office let me keep collecting since it wasn't my fault. Had to provide documentation though. Worth knowing about if anyone's in a similar situation!

One thing I'd add - if you're moving to a state that has different tax laws, make sure you understand how your NY unemployment benefits will be taxed. I moved to Nevada (no state income tax) and was pleasantly surprised that I didn't owe state taxes on my NY benefits. But some states might tax them differently. Worth checking with a tax professional or doing some research before you file next year!

Been through this exact situation! Moved from NY to Arizona last fall and kept collecting without any major issues. The key things that helped me: 1. Called the unemployment office BEFORE moving to confirm the process (used that claimyr service someone mentioned - totally worth the $20) 2. Updated my address in the system the day I officially moved 3. Set up mail forwarding with USPS just in case any important docs got sent to old address 4. Kept detailed job search logs - AZ has different job markets but NY still required proof I was actively looking One gotcha I ran into: make sure your new state doesn't have any weird rules about out-of-state benefit recipients. Arizona didn't care but I heard some states can be picky about it. Also if you're moving somewhere with way lower cost of living, that NY benefit amount might feel like a nice bump 😅 Good luck with the move!

Hey everyone! I actually just went through this process last month - moved from NYC to Portland, Oregon and I'm still collecting my NY benefits without any issues. Here's what worked for me: The most important thing is DON'T panic about updating your address right away. I waited until I was fully settled (about 2 weeks after the move) and then updated everything at once. What really helped was keeping a spreadsheet of all my job applications with dates, company names, and positions - NY still requires 3 work search activities per week even if you're applying to jobs in your new state. They actually don't care WHERE you're applying as long as you're meeting the requirement. One tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're moving somewhere with different time zones, pay attention to the certification deadlines! I almost missed my first certification because I forgot about the 3-hour time difference. Also seconding the claimyr.com recommendation - used it twice and it's legit. Way better than sitting on hold for 4+ hours like I did the first time I needed to call. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be. NY unemployment is actually pretty accommodating about interstate moves as long as you keep them in the loop and follow the rules.

Just want to add my experience as someone who moved from Buffalo to Atlanta last year - the process was surprisingly smooth! A few things that might help: 1. Keep screenshots of your weekly certifications as backup proof - had a glitch once where the system didn't record my certification and having the screenshot saved my butt 2. If you're moving to a state with a strong job market (like I did with Atlanta), NY actually seemed happy that I was expanding my job search opportunities 3. Don't stress about finding NY-specific jobs anymore - they totally understand you're looking where you live now 4. One thing nobody mentioned - if you have direct deposit set up, test it with a small amount first after you move. My credit union flagged the NY unemployment payments as "suspicious activity" when I moved states and temporarily froze my account The biggest relief was realizing NY wants you to find work, period. They don't care if it's in Rochester or Atlanta as long as you're actively looking and following their requirements. Been collecting for 6 months since the move with zero issues! Good luck with your move - it's definitely doable! 🙂

Really appreciate all the detailed responses here! I'm actually dealing with this exact situation right now - got laid off from my job in Manhattan but my lease is up next month and I'm thinking of moving back home to Ohio where rent is way cheaper. Was super stressed about losing my benefits but sounds like it's totally doable. The claimyr.com thing keeps coming up - might be worth the $20 to get official confirmation before I make the move. And definitely taking notes on all the tips about timing the address update, keeping detailed job search records, and watching out for bank/direct deposit issues. One question - has anyone had experience with moving to a state that has its own state unemployment system that might conflict? Like would Ohio care that I'm collecting NY benefits while living there? Probably overthinking it but just want to make sure I don't run into any weird interstate issues. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread is super helpful! 🙏

Just wanted to share my recent experience since this seems to be a common worry! I moved from Syracuse to North Carolina about 3 months ago and I'm still collecting my NY benefits without any problems. A couple things that really helped me: - I actually printed out the official NY DOL interstate claims policy from their website before I moved (found it buried in their FAQ section). Having that reference made me feel way more confident about the whole process. - Created a simple checklist for myself: update address, notify bank about location change, keep certifying weekly, maintain job search log. Breaking it down into steps made it feel less overwhelming. - The job market in NC is actually pretty good so NY seemed satisfied that I was making genuine efforts to find work. For anyone stressed about this - it's really not as complicated as it seems! NY unemployment definitely allows interstate collecting. Just stay organized and keep following their rules. The hardest part was honestly just getting over the initial anxiety about it. Moving out of state while on unemployment is totally legal and way more common than you'd think. Don't let the fear of losing benefits keep you from making a move that could be great for you financially or personally! 💪

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just got laid off from my job in Albany and considering moving back to my hometown in Pennsylvania where I can stay with family while job hunting. The rent savings alone would make my benefits go so much further. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences rather than just speculation. The consistency across all the responses is reassuring - sounds like NY is actually pretty reasonable about interstate moves as long as you follow their process. I'm definitely going to use that claimyr service to get official confirmation before I move. $20 seems like a small price to pay for peace of mind, especially after reading about people who ran into issues when they didn't communicate properly with the unemployment office. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone had experience with seasonal work while collecting? I might have an opportunity to do some temporary holiday retail work in PA, but I want to make sure I understand how that would affect my NY benefits before I commit to anything. Thanks again everyone for all the detailed info! This community is amazing 🙌

Just went through this exact process 2 months ago - moved from Rochester to Denver and still collecting my NY benefits! The key thing is don't overthink it. Here's what worked for me: 1. Called claimyr.com before moving (yes it's worth the $20) to confirm everything 2. Updated my address in the system once I was settled 3. Kept doing weekly certifications like normal 4. Applied to Colorado jobs for my work search requirement - NY didn't care at all The weirdest part was actually how EASY it was compared to all my anxiety about it. NY unemployment really doesn't care where you live as long as you're following their rules and looking for work. Been 8 weeks now with zero issues. Pro tip: Colorado's job market is actually pretty good so if anything NY seemed happy I was expanding my opportunities. Also that NY benefit amount goes way further here with the lower cost of living 😎 Don't let fear of losing benefits stop you from making a good move!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm currently on NY unemployment and my partner just got a job offer in Washington state. I've been losing sleep worrying about whether I'd lose my benefits if we moved, but reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief. The consistent theme seems to be: update your address once you're settled, keep certifying weekly, follow NY's job search rules (3 activities per week), and document everything. The claimyr.com service keeps getting mentioned too - definitely seems worth the $20 for official confirmation. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen discussed much - has anyone had issues with NY unemployment questioning WHY you moved? Like do they care if it's for family reasons vs. job opportunities vs. cost of living? Or do they just care that you're still actively job searching regardless of your motivation for relocating? Thanks to everyone who's shared their real experiences here. It's so much more helpful than trying to decode the official DOL website! 🙏