Can you collect unemployment if you have a job lined up in NY?
I just got laid off from my warehouse job last week and I'm wondering about filing for unemployment benefits. The thing is, I already have another job lined up that starts in about 6 weeks. My friend told me I can't collect unemployment if I have work lined up, but that seems crazy since I won't be earning anything for the next month and a half. Does NYS Department of Labor allow you to file for benefits if you have a future start date for employment? I really need the income to cover my bills until then.
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Vanessa Chang
Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment benefits in this situation! Having a future job lined up doesn't disqualify you from collecting UI benefits. The key is that you must be available and actively seeking work during the weeks you're claiming benefits. When you file your weekly claims, you'll need to certify that you're able and available to work. Just make sure to report the job offer when you file and update NYS Department of Labor when your start date approaches.
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Noah Irving
•Thank you! That's a huge relief. Do I need to mention the future job when I first file my initial claim?
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Madison King
i had the same thing happen to me couple months ago. filed for unemployment and had a job starting 3 weeks later. got benefits for those weeks no problem. just dont forget to stop certifying once you start working or youll get an overpayment notice
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Noah Irving
•Good to know! Did you have to do anything special when your new job started?
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Madison King
•nah just stopped filing weekly claims. make sure your last claim is for the week before you start work
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Julian Paolo
The important thing to understand is that unemployment eligibility is determined week by week. Each time you file your weekly claim, you're certifying that for THAT specific week you were unemployed, able to work, available for work, and actively seeking employment. A future job doesn't affect your current unemployment status. However, you should be honest about the job offer when filing - NYS Department of Labor may ask about it during the application process.
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Noah Irving
•Makes sense. Should I still be applying to other jobs during these 6 weeks or can I just wait for my lined up job to start?
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Julian Paolo
•You're still required to conduct an active job search and document it unless you're specifically on standby status. The job search requirement is 3 work search activities per week.
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Drew Hathaway
•You should definitely continue your job search activities during those 6 weeks. Even though you have something lined up, things can change - the job could fall through, get delayed, or you might find something better that starts sooner. Plus it's required to maintain your benefits eligibility. I'd recommend keeping a log of your search activities just in case NYS DOL asks for documentation.
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Ella Knight
Wait I'm confused about this too. I thought if you already had work lined up that meant you weren't really available for other work? Like what if someone offered you a job that started sooner - would you take it or stick with your planned job?
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Vanessa Chang
•That's a good question. Technically you need to be available for suitable work, but having a future job lined up doesn't automatically make you unavailable. You'd need to consider factors like the new job vs your planned job in terms of wages, hours, commute, etc.
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William Schwarz
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months trying to get through to someone about my claim issues. If you need to actually talk to an agent about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was way easier than spending hours on hold.
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Noah Irving
•Thanks for the tip! Hopefully I won't need to call but good to know there's an option if the online system gives me trouble.
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Lauren Johnson
Just file and don't overthink it. Worst case they deny you and you appeal. Better to try and get some money coming in than worry about every little rule.
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