Can you collect unemployment if you work for a nonprofit organization - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

Yes, you can absolutely collect unemployment if you worked for a nonprofit! Most nonprofits in NY are required to pay unemployment taxes just like regular employers. The only exception might be very small religious organizations, but even most of those participate in the system. You should definitely file your claim through the NYS Department of Labor website. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying.

been there! worked at a nonprofit for 3 years and collected unemployment when they had budget cuts. took forever to get through on the phone though when i had questions about my claim status

The confusion probably comes from the fact that some nonprofits can choose to reimburse the state for unemployment costs instead of paying regular unemployment taxes. But either way, as an employee you're still covered and eligible for benefits. Your employer's payment method doesn't affect your eligibility at all. Just make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file.

I had such a hard time reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor when I needed to verify my nonprofit employment history. Spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much frustration trying to get my questions answered about my claim.

Just to add - when you file make sure you list your nonprofit employer correctly with their full legal name and EIN if you have it. Sometimes the automated system has trouble matching nonprofit names if they're not entered exactly right.

I worked at a nonprofit health clinic for 4 years and was able to collect unemployment when they had to reduce staff due to funding cuts. The application process was pretty straightforward - just make sure you have your pay stubs and any termination paperwork ready. One thing I learned is that you should file as soon as possible after your last day of work, even if you're not 100% sure about all the details. You can always provide additional information later, but there's a waiting period before benefits start so the sooner you file the better. Good luck with your claim!

I'm in a similar situation - just got notice that my position at a nonprofit mental health organization is being eliminated next month due to budget constraints. This thread is really helpful because I was also unsure about eligibility. Does anyone know if there are any special considerations for nonprofit employees when it comes to calculating benefit amounts? I'm wondering if our typically lower salaries affect the weekly benefit calculation differently than private sector jobs.