Can you collect unemployment and go to school in NY - NYS Department of Labor rules?
I got laid off from my retail job last month and want to start taking some college classes while I'm collecting unemployment. I heard conflicting things about whether NYS Department of Labor allows this. Does anyone know if I can go to school part-time and still get my weekly benefits? I don't want to mess up my claim by not reporting something I should. The job search requirement is already stressful enough without worrying about school affecting my eligibility.
13 comments
Join the conversation
Talia Klein
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.
0 coins
Cedric Chung
•Thank you! Do I need to tell NYS Department of Labor about the classes when I file my initial claim or just on the weekly ones?
0 coins
Maxwell St. Laurent
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.
0 coins
PaulineW
•That's smart doing evening classes. I was worried about day classes affecting things.
0 coins
Annabel Kimball
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!!
0 coins
Talia Klein
•Your friend's situation sounds like she was taking too many credits. Full-time enrollment (usually 12+ credits) can definitely cause issues with the able and available requirement. That's why part-time is generally safer.
0 coins
Chris Elmeda
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
0 coins
Maxwell St. Laurent
•It depends on when your classes are scheduled and how many hours per week. If they're during typical work hours (like 9-5) it could be problematic. You might want to call NYS Department of Labor to ask about your specific situation.
0 coins
Jean Claude
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.
0 coins
Cedric Chung
•Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to call for days with no luck. Will definitely check that out.
0 coins
PaulineW
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than the nightmare of trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor normally.
0 coins
Charity Cohan
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.
0 coins
Val Rossi
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.
0 coins