Can you collect unemployment after being incarcerated in New York?

Thank you! That's really helpful. Do you know if they ask about the incarceration on the application or if it comes up during the process?

How long did it take for his claim to get approved? I'm worried about the delay since I need income soon.

i think it was like 6 weeks total but some of that was because he didnt have all his paperwork together at first

This is really important info. Are there any job placement services specifically for people with criminal records that might help with the job search requirement?

Yes, there are several resources that can help! The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) has locations throughout NY and specializes in job placement for formerly incarcerated individuals. Also check with your local One-Stop Career Center - they have programs specifically designed to help people with barriers to employment. These services can count toward your job search requirements for unemployment, and they understand the unique challenges you're facing. Many also offer job training programs if you're interested in learning new skills.

I had the same problem trying to reach NYS Department of Labor agents about my adjudication issue. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to someone within a day. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped when I needed to explain a complicated situation with my claim status.

This is exactly the kind of practical advice I was hoping for! Thank you @ea5bda5990dd for mentioning those specific organizations. I hadn't heard of The Osborne Association or Center for Employment Opportunities before. Do you know if they have locations throughout the state or are they mainly in NYC? Also, when you say they count as valid job search contacts - does that mean reaching out to their job counselors fulfills part of the weekly job search requirement?

@ea5bda5990dd can probably give you better details, but I know The Osborne Association has offices in NYC, Albany, and Buffalo. CEO (Center for Employment Opportunities) is mainly NYC/downstate but they do have some upstate programs. Yes, meeting with their job counselors and attending their job readiness workshops counts toward your work search activities - just make sure to document it in your job search log with dates and contact info. They'll usually give you a certificate of attendance too which helps if DOL ever audits your search activities. These organizations are used to working with people in exactly your situation so they know what employers are more open to hiring people with records.

@ea5bda5990dd can probably give you better details, but I know The Osborne Association has offices in NYC, Albany, and Buffalo. CEO (Center for Employment Opportunities) is mainly NYC area but they have some programs upstate too. As for the job search contacts - yes, meeting with their job counselors, attending their workshops, or participating in their job readiness programs typically counts toward your weekly work search activities. Just make sure to document it properly in your job search log with dates and contact info. These organizations are really familiar with helping people navigate unemployment benefits while job searching with a record.

This is really comprehensive advice, thank you @dd1b8aa2a47e! The point about NY having protections against discrimination based on criminal history for unemployment claims is reassuring. I'm going to start gathering all my W-2s from the warehouse job right away. Quick question - when you mention documenting job search activities, do you know if there's a specific number of job contacts required per week in NY? I want to make sure I'm meeting all the requirements from day one.

@8430a52d15c7 Great question! In NY, you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week to maintain your unemployment benefits. These can include applying for jobs online, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, or meeting with career counselors. Make sure to keep detailed records - employer name, contact method, date, and position applied for. The DOL can audit your job search log at any time. Also, register with NYJobsource.com as it's required and searching there can count toward your weekly contacts. Pro tip: networking events and informational interviews also count as valid job search activities!

@8430a52d15c7 In NY, you're required to make at least 3 job search contacts per week to maintain your unemployment benefits. These can include applying for jobs online, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, or meeting with employment counselors. Make sure to keep detailed records with dates, company names, contact methods, and any responses you receive. The Department of Labor can audit your job search log at any time, so being thorough from the start will save you headaches later. Also, registering with the NY Job Bank (jobs.ny.gov) is mandatory - that's where you'll find many positions and it shows you're actively using state resources to find work.

@8430a52d15c7 In NY, you typically need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week to maintain eligibility, but this can vary based on your local job market and individual circumstances. The contacts need to be documented with employer names, dates, positions applied for, and method of contact (online application, in-person, phone, etc.). Keep in mind that some activities count as equivalent to multiple contacts - like attending job fairs, workshops, or meeting with career counselors at organizations like those @ea5bda5990dd mentioned. I'd recommend checking the specific requirements when you file your claim since they sometimes update the guidelines. Also, make sure you're registering with NYJobsOnline.com as that's typically required within your first week of claiming benefits.