Can I take a leave of absence and still get NY unemployment benefits?

Unfortunately, you generally can't collect unemployment benefits during an approved leave of absence. NY unemployment is specifically for people who lost their job through no fault of their own or had their hours reduced. Since you're voluntarily taking time off and your job is still available to you, you wouldn't qualify. Have you looked into Paid Family Leave (PFL) in New York? That might be a better option for your situation since you're caring for a family member.

The previous comment is correct - you can't get regular unemployment while on an approved leave of absence. But New York's Paid Family Leave program would be perfect for your situation! It specifically covers caring for family members with serious health conditions, including parents. You can get up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 67% of your average weekly wage (up to a cap). You need to fill out the PFL-1 form and have both your employer and your parent's doctor complete portions of it. The doctor will need to fill out the PFL-4 form certifying the medical need. Your HR department should have these forms or you can download them from the NY.gov website.

I tried 2 get unemployment during my leave last yr & got DENIED. They told me since my job was still available to me I wasn't eligible. PFL is ur best bet!!! But warning - it takes FOREVER to get approved!!!! I waited like 3 weeks with no income before my first payment came thru. The system is so backed up right now.

I used Paid Family Leave to care for my dad last September. The key thing most people miss is that you need to give your employer 30 days notice when possible. Since you're planning this in advance, make sure to do that. And YES it covers parents! The forms are a bit confusing but stick with it. Your parent will need to sign a release form and their doctor needs to complete certification paperwork that confirms they have a serious health condition requiring care. The hardest part for me was getting through to someone when I had questions about my application. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a rep in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE showing how it works. Totally worth it because I had filled out one of the forms wrong and needed to fix it before they would process my claim.

The answer is NO for unemployment during leave of absence!!!! I work at the NYSDOL and see this question ALL THE TIME. Unemployment is only for people who are READY, WILLING and ABLE to work but cannot find work through no fault of their own. If you're on approved leave, you have a job waiting, so you don't qualify. Paid Family Leave is separate system entirely. Contact your HR department immediately to start that process as there are strict timeframes.

my friend took a leave for his wifes surgery and tried getting unemployment. got denied AND had to pay back the 2 weeks they gave him before they realized it was a leave! be really careful with this stuff.

One thing no one mentioned is whether your company has short-term disability insurance. Some employer plans will cover family care situations. Worth asking HR about that too when you discuss PFL. Sometimes you can combine them or use one after the other for more coverage. Also, make sure you understand if your employer will continue your health insurance during your leave and if you'll need to pay any premiums directly. That caught me by surprise during my leave.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I'm definitely going to pursue the Paid Family Leave option instead of unemployment. I'll talk to HR tomorrow about starting the paperwork and making sure my health insurance stays active. I'm also going to check on the timeframe for approval so I can plan accordingly. If I have trouble reaching someone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I really appreciate all your advice!

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I went through PFL for my mom's care - keep a detailed log of all the care you're providing (doctor appointments you attend, daily care tasks, etc.). While it's not required for the application, it can be helpful if there are any questions about the legitimacy of your claim later on. Also, don't forget that you can take PFL intermittently if needed - you don't have to use all 12 weeks consecutively. This was really helpful for me when my mom had good days and bad days. Good luck with everything!

I went through a similar situation last year when my father needed care after a stroke. Everyone here is giving you solid advice - definitely go with PFL instead of unemployment. One thing I'd add is to start the paperwork process as soon as possible, even if you don't need the leave to start immediately. The medical certification from your parent's doctor can sometimes take a while to get scheduled and completed, especially if they're seeing specialists. Also, make sure to ask your HR department about any company-specific policies for unpaid leave - some employers have additional job protection benefits beyond what's required by law. The peace of mind knowing your position is secure while you're caring for your parent is invaluable. Hope everything goes well with your parent's health!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when my mom had a major health scare. Everyone here is absolutely right - you cannot get unemployment benefits during an approved leave of absence, but NY Paid Family Leave is exactly what you need and it covers caring for parents. A few practical tips from my experience: 1) Start the PFL application process NOW, don't wait until you need to take the leave. The medical certification alone took my mom's doctor 2 weeks to complete. 2) Make sure you understand your company's leave policy - some employers require you to use accrued vacation/sick time first before PFL kicks in. 3) The 67% wage replacement has a weekly cap (around $1,200 when I applied), so calculate what you'll actually receive vs your normal pay to budget accordingly. The paperwork seems overwhelming at first, but it's really straightforward once you get started. Your parent's doctor just needs to confirm they have a serious health condition requiring family care. Don't let the bureaucracy discourage you - this benefit exists exactly for situations like yours. Wishing you and your parent all the best during this difficult time.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said about PFL being your best option here. I had to use it last fall when my dad was going through cancer treatment and it was a lifesaver. One thing I'd add that I wish someone had told me - when you're filling out the forms, be very specific about the type of care you'll be providing. Don't just write "caring for parent" - list actual tasks like "assistance with medical appointments, medication management, personal care, transportation to treatments" etc. The more detailed you are, the smoother the approval process tends to go. Also, if your parent is already seeing multiple doctors, ask which one would be best to complete the medical certification - sometimes the primary care doctor is faster than specialists. Good luck with everything, and I hope your parent's health improves soon!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it's so relevant to your situation. I just went through the PFL process last month for my elderly mother's care after she had a fall. The advice everyone's given here is spot-on - you absolutely cannot get unemployment during an approved leave, but PFL is designed exactly for situations like yours. One thing I learned that might help you is that NY Paid Family Leave actually has a really helpful online portal where you can track your application status once you submit it. This was a game-changer for me because I could see exactly where my application was in the process instead of wondering and worrying. Also, if your parent has multiple health conditions, make sure the doctor's certification covers the primary condition that requires the most care - this can help strengthen your application. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from submission to first payment, which aligns with what others have mentioned. I'd also recommend setting up direct deposit when you apply since paper checks can add extra delays. Hope this helps, and I'm sending good thoughts for your parent's health!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one more resource that might be useful - the NY.gov website has a PFL calculator tool that can help you estimate your weekly benefit amount before you apply. It's under the "Workers" section and really helped me budget for the reduced income during my leave. Also, for anyone worried about the paperwork being complicated - I was intimidated at first but honestly found it much more straightforward than I expected. The hardest part was just getting started and gathering all the necessary information. Once you have everything organized, the actual forms are pretty logical to fill out. One question for those who've been through this - did anyone have issues with their employer initially not understanding the PFL process? I'm a bit worried my HR department might not be familiar with all the requirements since we're a smaller company.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share some additional insights as someone who works in HR and has helped several employees navigate PFL applications. A few practical tips that might help: First, when you meet with your HR department, ask specifically about your company's policy on benefits continuation during unpaid leave. While PFL requires employers to maintain your health insurance, some companies also continue other benefits like life insurance or 401k matching - this varies by employer. Second, if your parent lives in a different state, don't worry - NY PFL still applies as long as YOU work in New York. I've seen employees mistakenly think they can't use NY benefits if they're caring for an out-of-state family member. Finally, consider discussing a gradual return to work plan with your employer before you start your leave. Some companies are flexible about reduced hours or remote work arrangements when you're ready to come back, which can help with the transition period. This isn't required by law, but many employers are willing to accommodate if you discuss it upfront. The process really isn't as daunting as it seems initially, and it sounds like you're already getting great advice from this community. Best of luck with everything!