Can permanent residents get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm a permanent resident (green card holder) who just lost my job after working for the same company for 2 years. I've been paying into unemployment insurance this whole time but I'm not sure if I'm actually eligible to collect benefits. Does anyone know if permanent residents can get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor? I tried looking on the my.ny.gov website but couldn't find a clear answer about immigration status requirements.
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Jay Lincoln
Yes, permanent residents are definitely eligible for unemployment benefits in New York! As long as you have work authorization and have been paying into the system, your immigration status shouldn't be an issue. You'll need your Social Security number and work history for the application. The key requirements are that you're able and available to work, actively seeking employment, and meet the earnings requirements from your base period.
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Brooklyn Foley
•Thank you! That's such a relief. I was worried I might not qualify even though I've been working and paying taxes here for years.
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Jessica Suarez
I'm also a green card holder and I collected unemployment last year when my position was eliminated. The process was exactly the same as for any other worker. Just make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file your claim on the NYS Department of Labor website.
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Marcus Williams
•How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about delays.
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Jessica Suarez
•Mine took about 3 weeks, but that was pretty typical. Just keep filing your weekly claims even while it's processing.
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Lily Young
Wait, I thought you needed to be a citizen to get benefits? This is confusing... are there any restrictions for permanent residents compared to citizens?
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Jay Lincoln
•No restrictions at all! Permanent residents have the same unemployment rights as citizens. The only people who might have issues are those without work authorization, but green card holders are fully authorized to work and receive benefits.
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Kennedy Morrison
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your eligibility, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it when I had questions about my claim status and got through in like 10 minutes instead of calling for hours.
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Brooklyn Foley
•That sounds helpful! The phone lines are always so busy when I try to call.
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Wesley Hallow
i got unemployment as a green card holder no problems at all just file online like everyone else
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