Can students collect unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?

That's helpful! My classes are mostly Tuesday/Thursday mornings so I could definitely work other times. Do I need to mention I'm a student when I file my claim?

This is exactly right. I was a grad student working part-time and got approved for unemployment when my job ended. Just be honest about your schedule and show you can work around classes.

Your advisor might have been thinking of work-study jobs or other campus employment, which can have different rules. Regular off-campus employment where you pay into unemployment insurance should make you eligible if you meet the other requirements.

Thanks for sharing that! I was already dreading trying to call them. How long did it take to get connected through that service?

Way faster than calling directly. Got through to someone who could actually answer my questions about student eligibility instead of just getting the runaround.

ugh that sounds terrible

@Lily Young Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It s'really reassuring to hear from someone who was in such a similar situation. The 3-week timeline is helpful to know for planning purposes. I m'definitely going to try calling early morning like you suggested, though that Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth trying too if the phone lines are as bad as everyone says. Quick question - when you say you kept good records of your work history while in school, did NYS Department of Labor actually ask to see pay stubs or other documentation, or was it more about being able to verbally explain your work pattern during the interview? I want to make sure I have everything organized before I start the process.

@Lily Young This is super helpful! I m'actually dealing with the same situation right now - just lost my retail job while finishing up my degree. The 3-week timeline gives me a realistic expectation for planning my budget. I m'curious about the record-keeping part you mentioned - did you just keep your pay stubs and work schedules, or were there other documents that helped demonstrate your work-study balance? Also, when you called at 8am, were you usually able to get through pretty quickly, or did you still have to wait on hold for a while? I m'trying to figure out the best strategy for actually reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor since everyone seems to struggle with that part.

@Lily Young This is exactly what I needed to hear! I m'the original poster and was starting to worry after getting mixed advice from different people. Your experience gives me confidence that this is definitely doable. The 3-week timeline is really helpful for budgeting - I was hoping it wouldn t'take months to get sorted out. I love the tip about calling at 8am, though I might try that Claimyr service first if it really does help avoid the phone wait nightmare everyone talks about. Since you mentioned keeping good records, I m'going to organize all my pay stubs and work schedules from the past two years to show the consistent pattern. One last question - during your weekly certifications after getting approved, did they continue to ask questions about your student status, or was it pretty routine once you were in the system? I want to make sure I stay on top of everything properly.

@Lily Young This is so helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it! I m'a junior and just lost my campus dining job due to budget cuts. Your timeline of 3 weeks is really good to know - I was worried it might take months. The early morning calling tip is smart, though I might also try that Claimyr service others mentioned since the phone system sounds like a nightmare. One question about the documentation - did they ask for your actual class schedule/transcript, or was it enough to just verbally explain your availability during the interview? I want to have everything ready before I apply. Also, did you find that working in food service actually helped with the job search requirements since there are usually flexible positions available in that field?

@Lily Young Thank you so much for this detailed breakdown! As someone who s'been stressing about this whole situation, hearing from someone who successfully navigated it as a student is incredibly reassuring. The 3-week timeline helps me plan my expenses, and I m'definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy. I m'also going to get all my pay stubs and work schedules organized like you suggested - having that employment history while enrolled should really help my case. One thing I m'wondering about - did you face any additional scrutiny during the process because of your student status, or was it pretty straightforward once you showed your work availability? I keep hearing mixed things about how difficult it can be for students, so your positive experience gives me hope that it s'really just about being prepared and honest about your situation.