Can you collect unemployment after disability runs out in New York?

Yes, you can definitely apply for unemployment benefits after your disability runs out as long as you're able and available to work. The key requirement is that you need medical clearance showing you can work again. Since your doctor cleared you for light duty, that should meet the NYS Department of Labor requirements. You'll need to file your initial claim as soon as your disability ends to avoid any gap in benefits.

same thing happened to my brother last year, he went straight from disability to unemployment with no problems

You should apply online through the NYS Department of Labor website as soon as your disability ends. Make sure you have documentation that you're medically able to work and actively seeking employment. The weekly job search requirement will kick in immediately, so start looking for positions that accommodate any work restrictions you might have. If your former employer terminated you while on disability, that could actually work in your favor for UI eligibility since it wasn't due to misconduct.

Wait I thought there was like a waiting period between disability and unemployment?? I'm confused about this because when I was on workers comp they told me I couldn't file for UI until it was completely resolved.

I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I needed to clarify this exact situation last year. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through, they'd transfer me around forever. Finally used Claimyr to get connected directly to an agent - they have this service where they handle all the calling and waiting for you. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my questions answered in one call through claimyr.com.

just make sure ur really ready to work because they will check up on u and if they find out u cant actually do the job search stuff they will make u pay everything back!!!

The NYS Department of Labor system is so ridiculous with all these different programs that don't talk to each other. Why should someone have to worry about gaps in coverage when they're already dealing with health issues? The whole thing needs to be redesigned.

I went through this exact transition about 6 months ago. The most important thing is timing - file your UI claim the week your disability ends, not before. You'll need to certify each week that you're able and available for work, so make sure you have that medical clearance letter handy. One tip: when you're doing your job searches, focus on positions that match your work restrictions. The Department of Labor wants to see you're genuinely looking for work you can actually perform. Also keep detailed records of all your applications because they may ask for proof during your continued claim process.

Just went through this transition myself about 3 months ago. The process was smoother than I expected - filed my UI claim the day after my disability ended and had no issues. One thing that really helped was getting a detailed letter from my doctor that specifically stated I was cleared to return to work with any restrictions clearly outlined. The DOL rep I spoke with said this kind of documentation makes the approval process much faster. Also, start your job search before you file if possible so you can immediately show you're actively looking for work that fits your capabilities.

I'm in a similar situation - my disability benefits are ending in a few weeks and I'm nervous about the transition. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring. One question I have is about the work search requirements - do they expect you to apply for jobs immediately, or is there any kind of grace period while you're getting back into the job market after being out for medical reasons? I've been out of work for about 6 months and feel pretty rusty with the whole job application process.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should double-check your base period earnings to make sure you qualify for UI benefits. Since you've been out of work for 8 months, make sure your earnings from before your disability started are within the required timeframe for benefit calculation. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. If your earnings don't qualify under the standard base period, New York allows you to use an alternate base period which might include more recent wages. It's worth checking this before you file to avoid any surprises about your benefit amount or eligibility.

I just wanted to add something that helped me during my transition from disability to unemployment - make sure to keep all your disability benefit paperwork organized because the DOL might ask for it during your UI application process. They want to verify the dates your disability ended and that there's no overlap between benefits. Also, if you have any ongoing medical appointments or physical therapy, you can still collect UI as long as they don't interfere with your ability to work or actively search for jobs. I scheduled all my PT sessions for early mornings so it wouldn't conflict with potential work schedules or interviews. The key is being completely transparent about your situation - the system is actually designed to help people transition back into the workforce after medical issues.

I'm currently going through this same transition right now - my disability benefits end next week and I just filed my UI claim yesterday. The online application was pretty straightforward, but I made sure to have my medical clearance letter and all my employment history ready beforehand. One thing that surprised me was that they asked specific questions about my work restrictions and whether I could perform certain types of jobs. I'd recommend being very clear about what you can and can't do work-wise when you apply. Also, I started reaching out to temp agencies that specialize in light duty positions since they often have more flexibility with accommodations. The whole process has been less scary than I thought it would be, but having all your documentation organized definitely makes it smoother.

I went through this exact same transition about two years ago after a knee surgery kept me out of work for 7 months. The good news is that yes, you can absolutely apply for unemployment benefits right after your disability ends - there's no mandatory waiting period as long as you have medical clearance to work. The key is to file your UI claim immediately when your disability benefits stop to avoid any gap in income. I'd also recommend calling ahead to confirm your medical clearance letter meets their requirements, since different doctors write these letters differently and some are more detailed than others. One heads up - they'll want to see that you're genuinely able to perform the work search activities, so make sure your doctor's letter specifically addresses your ability to interview and commute to potential jobs, not just your ability to perform work tasks. The whole process was much smoother than I expected once I had all my paperwork in order.

I'm actually in almost the exact same situation right now - my temporary disability benefits end in about 3 weeks and I've been stressing about this transition. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. My situation is a bit different since I had a work-related injury, but my employer also let me go while I was out (they said it was due to "restructuring" but the timing was pretty suspicious). I've been cleared for light duty work but I'm nervous about jumping back into the job market after being out for so long. The advice about getting a detailed medical clearance letter and keeping all the disability paperwork organized is really valuable - I'm going to make sure I have all of that ready before I file. It's also good to know that the online application process is straightforward. Has anyone had experience with how employers view the gap in employment when you explain it was due to a medical issue? I'm worried that might hurt my chances even though it was completely out of my control.

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - my disability benefits end in about 6 weeks and I've been gathering information about the transition. One thing I learned from speaking with a DOL representative is that you should also be prepared to explain any ongoing medical treatment or restrictions during your UI interviews. They want to make sure you can realistically accept work if it's offered to you. I'd recommend creating a simple document that outlines what types of work you can do, what accommodations you might need, and how your restrictions might affect your job search - this helped me feel more prepared and confident about the whole process. Also, don't forget to factor in any physical therapy or follow-up appointments when you're planning your work search schedule, since consistency in your job search efforts is really important for maintaining your benefits.

I'm going through this transition right now too and wanted to share something that really helped me - I called my former employer's HR department to get a letter confirming my employment dates and the reason for separation (medical disability). Even though they let me go, having that official documentation made my UI application much smoother because it clearly showed I wasn't terminated for misconduct. The DOL representative told me this type of documentation from employers really speeds up the approval process. Also, I started networking with former coworkers and colleagues before my disability ended - some of them gave me heads up about job openings that would work with my restrictions. Don't underestimate how much your professional network can help during this transition, especially people who already know your work quality and might be willing to advocate for reasonable accommodations.

I'm actually in the middle of this transition myself - my disability benefits ended two weeks ago and I just had my first UI payment deposited yesterday! The whole process was much less stressful than I anticipated. A few things that really helped: I filed my UI claim online the exact day my disability ended (didn't wait), had my medical clearance letter scanned and ready to upload, and I'd already started updating my resume and browsing job postings during my last week of disability so I could hit the ground running with work search activities. The DOL online portal is pretty user-friendly and walks you through everything step by step. One thing I wish someone had told me - they ask for your last day of work AND your last day of disability benefits, so make sure you have both dates handy when you apply. Also, if you're worried about the phone lines being busy, I found that calling right when they open at 8 AM gave me the best chance of getting through quickly when I had a follow-up question. You've got this!