Can you collect unemployment and go to school in NY - NYS Department of Labor rules?

Yes, you can generally collect unemployment while attending school in New York, but there are specific rules you need to follow. The key is that you must remain able and available for work. Part-time classes are usually fine as long as they don't interfere with your ability to accept suitable employment. You'll need to continue meeting your job search requirements and be ready to take a job if offered. Make sure to report your school attendance when filing your weekly claims.

I'm doing this right now actually. Been taking two evening classes at community college while collecting UI. The trick is making sure your class schedule doesn't prevent you from working during normal business hours. I always answer 'yes' to being able and available for work on my weekly claims because my classes are only Tuesday and Thursday nights. Haven't had any issues with NYS Department of Labor so far.

Be VERY careful with this! My friend got disqualified because she was taking a full course load and NYS Department of Labor said she wasn't available for work. They made her pay back like $2,800 in benefits. The system is so unfair - they want you to better yourself but then punish you for it!!

wait so if i take like 2 classes during the day would that be a problem? im so confused about what counts as interfering with work availability

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor about this same question for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent who explained the school rules clearly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Way better than sitting on hold forever or getting hung up on like usual.

Just wanted to add my experience - I took one online class last semester while on unemployment and had no issues. Online classes are great because they're more flexible around job interviews and work schedules. Just make sure you're honest on your weekly claims about being able to work.

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. From what I've learned, the main thing NYS Department of Labor cares about is whether your school schedule prevents you from accepting suitable work. They typically consider factors like: 1) Total credit hours (part-time is generally safer than full-time), 2) Class scheduling (evening/weekend classes are less likely to interfere), and 3) Your field of study (if it's related to your work experience, that can help). The key is being completely transparent on your weekly certifications. I'd recommend keeping documentation of your class schedule and being prepared to explain how it doesn't interfere with your job search availability if questioned.

I went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my marketing job. I enrolled in two night classes at SUNY and continued collecting unemployment for about 4 months without any problems. The key things that worked for me: I kept my classes to under 6 credits per semester, scheduled them for evenings only (6-9pm), and always answered honestly on my weekly claims that I was available for work during normal business hours. I also made sure to mention in job interviews that my classes wouldn't interfere with work schedules. NYS Department of Labor never questioned it because I was clearly available for full-time employment. Just be strategic about your scheduling and always be truthful in your filings!

I'm currently navigating this same situation after being laid off from my teaching job in December. I've been collecting unemployment while taking two online graduate courses (6 credits total) that are completely asynchronous - no set class times at all. This has worked perfectly because I can do coursework around my job search schedule and interviews. The flexibility of online/asynchronous classes really eliminates any concern about availability for work. When I file my weekly claims, I always answer that I'm available for full-time work because my studies don't restrict my schedule in any way. So far NYS Department of Labor hasn't questioned anything. If you're considering school while on unemployment, I'd definitely recommend looking into online programs with flexible scheduling - it gives you the best of both worlds without any availability conflicts.