Can seasonal employees collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I just finished my seasonal job at a ski resort in the Adirondacks and I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor. I worked there from December through March, about 16 weeks total, and now they've laid everyone off until next winter. My friend said seasonal workers might not qualify but I'm not sure if that's true. I made decent money during the season but now I'm worried about covering expenses until I find something else. Has anyone else dealt with this situation? Do seasonal employees have the same rights to UI benefits as regular workers?
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Jayden Reed
Yes, seasonal employees can absolutely collect unemployment benefits in New York! The key is that you need to have earned enough wages during your base period to qualify. Since you worked 16 weeks at the ski resort, you should have built up sufficient wage credits. NYS Department of Labor doesn't discriminate against seasonal workers - they look at your total wages and work history just like any other claim. You'll need to file your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements, but your seasonal status shouldn't prevent you from collecting benefits.
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Grace Johnson
•That's a relief! I was worried I wouldn't qualify. Do you know if there are any special rules about the job search requirement for seasonal workers? Like, do I have to look for work outside my usual industry?
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Nora Brooks
I worked seasonal construction for years and always collected unemployment during the slow months. The trick is making sure you have enough work credits in your base period. NYS Department of Labor calculates this based on the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. As long as you earned enough wages and worked enough weeks, you're good to go. One thing to watch out for - if your employer expects you back next season, that might affect your claim status.
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Eli Wang
wait i thought seasonal workers couldn't get benefits? my cousin works at a beach resort on long island and she said they told her she couldn't file because it was temporary work
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Jayden Reed
•Your cousin might have been given incorrect information. Seasonal work is different from temporary work in the eyes of NYS Department of Labor. Seasonal positions that last several months definitely qualify as long as the wage and work requirements are met. She should definitely file a claim!
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Cassandra Moon
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I filed my seasonal claim last year. Kept getting busy signals and when I finally got through, they put me on hold forever. If you're having similar issues, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual person. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made the whole process way less stressful than trying to call repeatedly.
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Grace Johnson
•Thanks for the tip! I haven't filed yet but I'll keep that in mind if I run into phone issues.
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Zane Hernandez
The job search requirement for seasonal workers is the same as everyone else - you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. However, you can search within your field of expertise, so looking for other seasonal positions or off-season work in hospitality/recreation would count. NYS Department of Labor wants to see you're making a genuine effort to find work, not just waiting for your seasonal job to start up again.
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Genevieve Cavalier
Been there! Worked at a summer camp for three years and always filed unemployment during the off-season. Never had any problems with my claims. Just make sure you report any odd jobs or part-time work you pick up while collecting benefits.
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Natasha Romanova
I'm in a similar situation - just finished my seasonal job at a resort in the Finger Lakes region and was nervous about filing for unemployment. Reading everyone's responses here is really encouraging! One thing I'm curious about - when you file the initial claim, do you need to provide any special documentation proving your seasonal employment ended, or is it treated the same as any other layoff? Also, has anyone had experience with how quickly NYS Department of Labor processes seasonal claims compared to regular unemployment claims?
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Javier Torres
•From my experience, you don't need any special documentation for seasonal layoffs - NYS Department of Labor treats it the same as a regular layoff. Your employer should have already reported the separation to the state when they laid everyone off. As for processing times, I found my seasonal claim was processed just as quickly as my regular claim from a few years back - took about 2-3 weeks to get my first payment after filing. The key is just making sure you file as soon as possible after your last day of work. Good luck with your claim!
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