Can you collect unemployment after long-term disability runs out in NY?
My long-term disability benefits through my employer are ending next month after 2 years. I'm still dealing with some health issues but my doctor says I can work with certain restrictions now. Can I file for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits right after my disability ends? I'm worried there might be a waiting period or that I won't qualify since I haven't been actively looking for work while on disability. Has anyone been through this transition before?
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Owen Devar
Yes, you can potentially qualify for unemployment benefits after your long-term disability ends, but there are specific requirements you'll need to meet. You must be able and available for work, which means you can perform some type of work even with restrictions. The NYS Department of Labor will evaluate whether you're actively seeking employment and physically capable of working. You should file your claim as soon as your disability benefits end to avoid any gaps.
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Brooklyn Knight
•That's really helpful, thank you! Do I need to provide medical documentation showing I'm cleared to work? And should I mention my work restrictions when I file?
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Daniel Rivera
I went through this exact situation last year. My disability ended in March and I filed for unemployment immediately. The key thing is you have to show you're actively job searching and available for work. I had to submit my weekly job search log like everyone else. It took about 3 weeks for my first payment because they had to verify my work history and make sure I met the able and available requirement.
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Brooklyn Knight
•Did they question you about the gap in employment or was it pretty straightforward once you proved you were cleared to work?
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Daniel Rivera
•They asked for a doctor's note confirming I was released to work and could perform job search activities. Once I provided that, it was smooth sailing.
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Sophie Footman
Wait I'm confused - if you were on disability doesn't that mean you CANT work? How can you suddenly be eligible for unemployment? This doesn't make sense to me.
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Owen Devar
•Disability benefits and unemployment serve different purposes. Long-term disability usually ends when someone is medically cleared to return to some form of work, even with limitations. At that point, if they can't find employment, they may qualify for unemployment benefits as long as they meet the able and available requirements.
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Connor Rupert
I had so much trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor when I was transitioning from disability to unemployment. Kept getting disconnected or put on hold forever. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who helped me understand the process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. Made the whole thing so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Brooklyn Knight
•I'll definitely check that out if I run into issues. The thought of spending hours on hold while dealing with this transition is stressing me out already.
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Molly Hansen
Just make sure you understand the work search requirements! You'll need to document that you're actively looking for jobs that accommodate your restrictions. The NYS Department of Labor takes this seriously.
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Hannah White
I'm actually going through something similar right now - my disability benefits end in about 6 months and I'm already starting to research this process. One thing I learned from my case worker is that you should start documenting your job search capabilities before your disability ends. Even if you can't actively apply yet, you can research positions that would work with your restrictions and keep notes. This shows the Department of Labor that you're serious about transitioning back to work. Also, don't forget to check if your employer has any return-to-work programs or if they're required to hold a position for you under FMLA - that could affect your unemployment eligibility timing.
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Philip Cowan
•That's really smart advice about starting the documentation early! I hadn't thought about researching positions before I'm actually ready to apply. My employer did mention something about FMLA when I first went on disability, but honestly I was so overwhelmed at the time that I didn't pay close attention. I should probably reach out to HR to clarify what my options are there. Did your case worker give you any specific tips on what kind of documentation the Department of Labor likes to see for the job search requirements?
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