Can you collect unemployment from another state while living in NY?
I just moved to New York from Pennsylvania last month and I'm wondering if I can still collect unemployment benefits from my previous job there. I worked in PA for 2 years before relocating here for my spouse's job transfer. My last employer was based in Pennsylvania but I haven't found work in NY yet. Do I need to file with NYS Department of Labor instead or can I continue with my PA claim? I'm really confused about the rules when you move between states.
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QuantumQuasar
You typically file unemployment in the state where you worked, not where you currently live. Since your job was in Pennsylvania, you should file there. However, if you're now looking for work in NY, there might be special interstate provisions. The NYS Department of Labor website has information about interstate claims but PA would handle your benefits.
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Andre Dupont
•Thanks! So even though I live in NY now I still go through Pennsylvania's system? That makes sense since that's where I paid into unemployment insurance.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Yeah I had this same situation when I moved from NJ to NY. You file where you worked but you can look for jobs in your new state. There's something called an interstate agreement that lets states work together on this stuff.
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Jamal Wilson
The Interstate Benefit Payment Plan allows you to file unemployment in the state where you worked while living in a different state. You'll file with Pennsylvania since that's where your wages were earned, but you can register for work search activities through NYS Department of Labor if required. Make sure to inform PA about your move so they can coordinate any job search requirements with NY.
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Mei Lin
•Wait, do you have to do job searches in both states then? That sounds really confusing and like a lot of extra work.
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Jamal Wilson
•No, typically just in the state where you're looking for work. PA will work with NY to verify your job search activities. It's actually pretty streamlined once you get it set up.
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Liam Fitzgerald
I tried calling PA unemployment office for weeks about this exact thing and could never get through! Finally used this service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual person at the unemployment office. They have a website claimyr.com and there's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much frustration trying to get answers about my interstate claim.
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Andre Dupont
•Oh interesting, I'll check that out. The hold times are absolutely ridiculous when you try to call these offices.
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Amara Nnamani
Just make sure you update your address with PA immediately. I forgot to do that when I moved and it caused all sorts of problems with my payments getting delayed.
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Freya Andersen
I went through this exact situation last year when I moved from Ohio to NY. The key thing is to file your initial claim with Pennsylvania since that's where you worked and earned your wages. Once you have your PA claim established, you'll need to register with the NYS Department of Labor's job search system to fulfill any work search requirements. PA and NY have agreements in place that make this process smoother than it sounds. Just be prepared for some paperwork and make sure to keep both states informed about your job search activities. The good news is you don't lose your benefits just because you moved!
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Tasia Synder
•This is really helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - just moved from California to NY and wasn't sure how the process would work. Did you have to do anything special to coordinate between the two states or did they handle most of the communication automatically once you registered with both? Also, how long did it take to get everything set up properly?
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