Can a student apply for unemployment benefits in New York - confused about eligibility
I'm a college student at SUNY and I lost my part-time job at a retail store last month. My friend told me students can't get unemployment but I've been paying into the system from my paychecks for over a year. I worked 25 hours a week during the semester and full-time during breaks. Can I actually apply for NYS Department of Labor benefits or am I wasting my time? I really need the money to help with rent and expenses.
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Aisha Khan
Yes, students can absolutely apply for unemployment benefits in New York! The key factor is whether you're considered 'able and available' for work. If you can work around your class schedule and you've earned enough wages, you should be eligible. You need to have worked at least two quarters and earned a minimum amount. Since you worked 25 hours weekly, you likely meet the wage requirements.
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CosmicCruiser
•That's a relief! Do I need to prove I can work around my classes when I file my weekly claims?
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Ethan Taylor
The main thing NYS Department of Labor looks at is whether you're available for work. As long as you can accept suitable employment that works with your school schedule, you're good. When you file your initial claim, they'll ask about your availability. Just be honest about your class times and when you can work.
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Yuki Ito
•This is exactly right. I got benefits while in school last year. Just make sure you're applying for jobs and documenting your job search activities.
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Carmen Lopez
wait i thought students couldnt get unemployment??? my advisor told me that when i lost my campus job
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Aisha Khan
•That's a common misconception. Students CAN get unemployment, but there are some restrictions. Work-study jobs typically don't qualify because they're funded differently, which might be why your advisor said that.
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Andre Dupont
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I applied as a student. Spent hours on hold trying to clarify my availability status. Eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me connect with an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than dealing with the phone system myself.
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CosmicCruiser
•How much did that cost? I'm already broke from losing my job.
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Andre Dupont
•It was worth it for me to avoid the phone maze, but you can always try calling directly first. Just know the wait times can be brutal.
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QuantumQuasar
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS SO MESSED UP FOR STUDENTS! They make it seem like we don't deserve benefits even though we've been working and paying taxes. I had to fight for weeks to get my claim approved because they kept questioning my availability.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•I feel you on this. The whole process feels designed to discourage people from applying.
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Evelyn Martinez
@CosmicCruiser definitely apply! I'm also a SUNY student and successfully got unemployment benefits last year when my restaurant job cut hours. The key things that helped me: 1) Keep detailed records of your work history and wages, 2) Be clear about your availability (I put down evenings/weekends around my class schedule), 3) Start your job search immediately and document everything. The retail experience you have makes you very employable. Don't let anyone discourage you - you paid into the system and you're entitled to benefits if you meet the requirements, which it sounds like you do.
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