Can a 16 year old collect unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
My daughter just turned 16 and got laid off from her part-time job at a local restaurant after working there for 8 months. She was making decent money for a teenager and we're wondering if she's eligible to file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? I know there are age requirements for most things but not sure about UI claims. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Landon Morgan
Yes, 16-year-olds can absolutely file for unemployment in New York if they meet the work history requirements. The key factors are: she needs sufficient wage credits in her base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), she must be able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. Age isn't a disqualifier - it's all about work history and wages earned.
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Ellie Perry
AuthorThat's great to know! She worked pretty consistently for those 8 months, probably 15-20 hours a week. How do we check if she has enough wage credits?
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Teresa Boyd
wait really?? i had no idea minors could get unemployment... my 17 year old brother got fired last month and we never even thought to apply
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Lourdes Fox
You'll need to file online through the NYS Department of Labor website. The system will automatically calculate her wage credits based on what her employer reported. Since she's a minor, make sure you have all her work documentation ready - pay stubs, W-2 if she has one, and her Social Security card. The job search requirements still apply though - she'll need to be actively looking for work and document her search activities.
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Ellie Perry
AuthorDo the job search requirements work differently for someone her age? Like are there restrictions on what types of jobs she can apply for?
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Lourdes Fox
The job search requirements are the same, but obviously she's limited to jobs that comply with child labor laws. Restaurant work, retail, some office work - basically age-appropriate positions. NYS Department of Labor will consider that when reviewing her search efforts.
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Bruno Simmons
I went through this exact thing two years ago when my son got let go from his grocery store job at 16. The biggest hurdle was actually getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions - their phone lines are always jammed. We ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped us get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Aileen Rodriguez
How much did that cost? Seems like something we shouldn't have to pay for...
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Bruno Simmons
It was worth it for us just to get accurate information quickly instead of guessing. The peace of mind was huge when dealing with something we'd never done before.
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Zane Gray
The system is SO broken that even teenagers have to deal with this bureaucratic nightmare. When I was 16 we just found another job, now kids need unemployment benefits?? What is this world coming to
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Maggie Martinez
Times are different now. Jobs aren't as easy to find as they used to be, and if she's eligible for benefits she earned, why not use them?
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Maggie Martinez
One thing to keep in mind - if she does qualify and receives benefits, she'll still need to file weekly claims and report any earnings from new employment. The good news is the online system is pretty straightforward for weekly claims once you get the initial application processed.
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Diego Fisher
Just wanted to add that even though she's eligible to apply, the benefit amount for a 16-year-old will likely be pretty small since it's based on her earnings history. With 8 months of part-time work, she probably won't get the maximum weekly benefit, but every little bit helps while she's looking for her next job. Also, make sure she keeps detailed records of her job search activities from day one - NYS Department of Labor can ask for documentation at any time during her claim period.
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