Can seasonal workers get unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I've been working seasonal jobs for the past few years - mostly landscaping in spring/summer and snow removal in winter. Between seasons there's usually a 2-3 month gap where I can't find work. My friend told me I might be eligible for unemployment during these off periods but I'm not sure if seasonal workers qualify. Has anyone else in a similar situation been able to get benefits from NYS Department of Labor? What do I need to prove to qualify?
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Ethan Wilson
Yes, seasonal workers can definitely qualify for unemployment benefits in NY! You need to have earned enough wages during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). The key is showing you're available and actively seeking work during your off-season. Make sure to file your claim as soon as your seasonal work ends.
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Aisha Abdullah
•That's great news! Do I need to show I'm looking for work even if I know my seasonal job will start back up in a few months?
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NeonNova
You'll need to meet the weekly job search requirements unless you have a specific return date with your employer. If your employer gives you a written notice that you'll be recalled by a certain date (and it's within 8 weeks), you might qualify for standby status which has different requirements.
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Yuki Tanaka
•wait what's standby status?? I've never heard of that before
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NeonNova
•Standby means you have a definite recall date from your employer within 8 weeks. You don't have to actively job search but you must be available to return to work when called back.
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Carmen Diaz
I tried this last year and got DENIED because they said seasonal workers 'choose' to work intermittently. Had to appeal and everything. It's not as straightforward as people make it sound!!
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Ethan Wilson
•That sounds like you might have had an issue with how you explained your availability. If you can show you're willing to work year-round but seasonal opportunities are what's available in your field, you should qualify.
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Andre Laurent
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to even ask about this stuff. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person who explained the seasonal worker rules. They have a video demo too if you want to see how it works - https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI
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Emily Jackson
•Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get hung up on
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Liam Mendez
my cousin does seasonal work at a resort and gets unemployment every winter. just make sure you file right away when the season ends
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Jamal Carter
I work seasonal construction and have been getting unemployment benefits during slow winter months for the past 3 years. The trick is documenting everything - keep pay stubs from all your seasonal jobs and make sure your employers report your wages correctly. Also, when you file your weekly certification, be honest about your availability but emphasize that you're actively looking for work even during off-season. The NYS DOL website has a good calculator to estimate if you've earned enough in your base period to qualify.
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Lorenzo McCormick
•This is super helpful! I've been keeping my pay stubs but didn't know about making sure employers report wages correctly. How do you check if they've reported everything properly? And do you have any tips for the weekly certification process - like what kinds of work search activities count during the off-season?
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