Can you collect unemployment if your company shuts down for a week in NY?
My employer just announced they're doing a mandatory shutdown next week due to equipment maintenance issues and won't be paying anyone during that time. I work full-time normally and this came out of nowhere. Am I eligible to file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor for just that one week? Or do I need to be out of work longer? I've never dealt with this situation before and don't want to mess up my claim if I'm not supposed to file.
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Callum Savage
Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment benefits for temporary layoffs like this in New York. Even if it's just one week, you're entitled to benefits if your employer temporarily reduces your hours to zero. You'll need to file your initial claim and then certify for that week. Make sure you report that you expect to return to work when they reopen.
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Landon Flounder
•Thank you! Do I file right away or wait until the shutdown actually starts? And will this affect my job when I come back?
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Ally Tailer
File as soon as possible but make sure to indicate this is a temporary layoff. NYS Department of Labor has provisions for short-term shutdowns. You won't lose your job over filing - it's illegal for employers to retaliate for legitimate unemployment claims. The key is being honest about expecting to return to work.
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Aliyah Debovski
•This happened at my plant last year during retooling. Filed for 2 weeks and had no issues when we went back. Just make sure you're available for work if they call you back early.
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Miranda Singer
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to file for a similar situation. The phone lines are always busy and the online system can be confusing for temporary layoffs. I ended up using Claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who walked me through the process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole thing much easier than trying to call directly.
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Landon Flounder
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about missing a week of pay.
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Miranda Singer
•It's definitely worth checking out their site for the details, but the peace of mind of actually talking to someone who knows the system was huge for me. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Cass Green
wait so if your just out for a week you can get unemployment?? i thought you had to be laid off permanently or something
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Callum Savage
•Nope, temporary layoffs count too as long as your hours are reduced to zero. Even if it's just a few days. The important thing is that it's not your choice to be off work.
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Finley Garrett
The NYS Department of Labor system is so broken honestly. They make it impossible to reach anyone and then act like we're trying to scam them for filing legitimate claims. I hope your company gets their act together and doesn't pull this kind of surprise shutdown again. At least you know your rights now.
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Madison Tipne
•I feel you on the frustration but at least the benefits are there when we need them. Could be worse.
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Sean Kelly
Just went through this exact situation last month when our factory had an unexpected shutdown for electrical repairs. Filed online the day before the shutdown started and got my benefits for those 3 days we were out. The key things I learned: 1) File as soon as you know about the shutdown, 2) Be very clear it's temporary when you file, and 3) Make sure to certify for benefits even if it's just a few days. The online system actually worked fine for me - took about 20 minutes to complete the initial application. Don't stress about it affecting your job, employers deal with this stuff all the time and it's completely normal to file for temporary layoffs.
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Finnegan Gunn
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to hear it went smoothly for you. Did you have to do anything special when you went back to work or did the claim just automatically close when you started getting paid again?
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Natasha Volkov
I went through something similar when my company had an unexpected 4-day closure for emergency repairs. The process was actually pretty straightforward - I filed online the same day they announced the shutdown and got benefits for those days. One thing that helped me was having all my employer info ready (company name, address, supervisor contact) before starting the application. Also, when you certify for benefits that week, you'll mark that you were "totally unemployed" for those days but expecting to return to work. The system handles temporary layoffs really well, so don't worry about it being complicated. Just make sure you're honest about the situation and you should be fine!
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Dylan Mitchell
•This is really helpful! I'm feeling much more confident about filing now. One quick question - when you say have all the employer info ready, do I need anything specific beyond the basics like company name and address? Like do they ask for the reason for the shutdown or just that it's temporary?
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Miguel Ramos
•They'll ask for the basic employer info (name, address, phone) and you'll need to indicate the reason for separation - there's usually a dropdown option for "temporary layoff" or "lack of work." You don't need to write a detailed explanation about the equipment maintenance, just select the appropriate reason code. The system is pretty good about recognizing these standard temporary layoff situations. Having your last day of work and expected return date ready helps too, even if the return date is approximate.
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Caden Nguyen
Just wanted to add my experience from when this happened at my warehouse job. The most important thing is to file your claim ASAP - don't wait until the shutdown actually starts. I made that mistake and it delayed my first payment by a few days. Also, keep documentation of the shutdown notice from your employer if they gave you anything in writing. It's not required but it can help if there are any questions later. The whole process took me about 15 minutes online and I had my benefits deposited within a week. Your employer has to pay into the unemployment system anyway, so don't feel guilty about using it when you legitimately need it!
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Sean Fitzgerald
•That's great advice about filing ASAP! I wish I had known that when I went through a similar situation a few months ago. I waited until the actual shutdown day and it definitely delayed things. Also totally agree about not feeling guilty - we pay into this system for exactly these kinds of situations. Quick question though - when you say keep documentation of the shutdown notice, does a text message or email from a supervisor count, or does it need to be something more official?
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