Can anyone file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor or are there requirements?
I'm really confused about who can actually apply for unemployment benefits in New York. My cousin says anyone can file but my neighbor told me there are specific requirements you have to meet first. I lost my job last month at a retail store where I worked for 8 months, but I'm not sure if I qualify since it wasn't a full-time position and I was only making about $280 a week. Can anyone file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor or do you need to meet certain criteria first? I don't want to waste time applying if I'm not eligible.
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Faith Kingston
Not everyone can file for unemployment benefits. You need to meet several basic requirements: you must have worked and earned wages in New York during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, and you must be able and available to work. The NYS Department of Labor also requires that you actively search for work. Your earnings of $280/week for 8 months should likely meet the monetary requirements, but the key question is why you lost your job.
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Lincoln Ramiro
•I was laid off because the store was cutting hours and staff due to slow business. Does that count as 'no fault of my own'?
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Emma Johnson
Yeah you should be fine to apply. Layoffs due to business reasons definitely qualify. I was in a similar situation last year - part time retail job, got laid off when they downsized. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim without any issues. The main thing is you can't have been fired for misconduct or quit without good cause.
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Liam Brown
•How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the process taking forever and I need to pay rent.
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Olivia Garcia
definitely apply! the worst they can say is no but from what you described you should qualify. i had a part time job too and got benefits
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Faith Kingston
One thing to keep in mind - if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your application status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me from sitting on hold for hours when I had questions about my claim.
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Noah Lee
•Is that service legit? I've been trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my adjudication status.
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Ava Hernandez
Wait I'm confused - I thought you needed to work full time for at least a year to get unemployment? My sister told me that but maybe she was wrong. I've been putting off applying because I only worked part time for 6 months before getting let go.
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Faith Kingston
•That's a common misconception. There's no full-time requirement - it's based on your earnings during the base period, not whether you worked full or part time. As long as you earned enough wages and worked enough weeks, you can qualify for benefits.
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Isabella Martin
Just apply online through my.ny.gov - the system will tell you if you qualify based on your work history. Don't overthink it.
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