Can a self employed person collect unemployment NYS Department of Labor benefits?
I've been running my own small consulting business for the past 2 years but work has completely dried up. I haven't had any contracts in 3 months and I'm struggling to pay my bills. I never paid into unemployment as a self-employed person but I'm wondering if there's any way I can collect unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor? I heard something about pandemic programs but I don't think those exist anymore. Has anyone been in this situation before?
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Esmeralda Gómez
Unfortunately, traditional unemployment insurance through NYS Department of Labor requires you to have been an employee who had UI taxes withheld from your paychecks. Self-employed individuals typically don't qualify for regular UI benefits because you haven't paid into the system. The pandemic programs like PUA that covered self-employed workers ended in 2021.
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Yuki Tanaka
•That's what I was afraid of. Is there anything else I might qualify for? Maybe if I start looking for regular employment?
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Klaus Schmidt
You might want to look into other assistance programs instead of unemployment. Check if you qualify for SNAP benefits or emergency rental assistance. Also, some workforce development programs can help you transition from self-employment to traditional employment, which would then make you eligible for future UI benefits if you lose that job.
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Aisha Patel
•this is good advice, also check with your county's social services department they might have other programs available
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LilMama23
wait i thought anyone could get unemployment now?? my cousin got it last year and she was doing uber driving
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Esmeralda Gómez
•Your cousin might have been eligible if she was classified as an employee rather than independent contractor, or she could have been receiving benefits from a previous traditional job. The rules are pretty strict about self-employment.
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Dmitri Volkov
I went through something similar last year when my freelance photography work disappeared. NYS Department of Labor was pretty clear that I didn't qualify for regular UI. What helped me was contacting them directly to make sure I understood all my options. The phone lines are always busy though - I had to call dozens of times. Someone mentioned using claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent faster. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you want to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor directly about your specific situation.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Thanks! I'll definitely look into that. I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks but can never get through.
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Gabrielle Dubois
•Never heard of that service but anything beats sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected!
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Tyrone Johnson
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. Small business owners pay taxes on everything else but can't get help when things go bad. Meanwhile people who never worked a day in their life get all kinds of benefits...
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Aisha Patel
have you considered taking on some part time work while you rebuild your business? that way you'd start paying into UI for future protection
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Zainab Omar
I'm in a similar boat - been freelancing as a graphic designer and haven't had steady work in months. From what I've learned, New York does have some options beyond traditional UI that might help. You could look into the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs which sometimes offer support for people transitioning between different types of work. Also, if you're willing to take on even part-time W-2 employment, you'd start building eligibility for future unemployment benefits. In the meantime, definitely explore local food banks and utility assistance programs - many don't require you to have been traditionally employed. The struggle is real when you're self-employed and hit a rough patch.
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NebulaNomad
•This is really helpful information! I hadn't heard of WIOA programs before. Do you know if there are specific requirements to qualify for those, or where I should start looking into them? The idea of taking part-time W-2 work to build future eligibility makes a lot of sense too, even though it means putting my consulting business on the back burner for now.
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