Can you collect unemployment while going to school - NYS Department of Labor rules?

Yes, you can generally collect unemployment while attending school in New York, but there are some important rules. You must still be able and available for full-time work, and you need to continue your job search activities. Part-time evening classes are usually fine as long as they don't interfere with your ability to accept a job offer. Make sure to report your school attendance when you file your weekly claims.

i went to school while on unemployment last year and had no problems. just make sure you can still work full time if someone offers you a job. the classes cant conflict with normal work hours

Be very careful about this. NYS Department of Labor can be strict about the 'able and available' requirement. If your school schedule makes you unavailable for work during normal business hours, they could disqualify you. I'd recommend calling them to clarify your specific situation before enrolling. The phone lines are always busy though - I've had better luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually get through to speak with an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.

The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. They want you to find work but then make it nearly impossible to improve your skills. I tried to take a certification course last year and they gave me such a hard time about it. Make sure you document EVERYTHING about your school schedule and job search efforts.

Wait, I'm confused about this too. I thought if you're in school you automatically can't get unemployment? My cousin told me that but maybe she was wrong?

Just wanted to add that if you're doing any kind of vocational training approved by NYS Department of Labor, there might be different rules. I did a welding program through them and didn't have to do the regular job search requirements during that time.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I enrolled in evening business classes at SUNY. The key thing is making sure your class schedule doesn't conflict with potential work opportunities. I made sure to schedule all my classes after 6 PM and kept my days completely free for job interviews and work. When I filed my weekly claims, I always reported that I was attending school but emphasized that I remained available for full-time employment during business hours. Never had any issues with my benefits. Just be honest on your weekly certifications and keep detailed records of your job search activities - they may ask for proof that you're actively looking for work despite being in school.

I actually went through this exact same process about a year ago and wanted to share my experience. I was on unemployment for about 3 months and decided to take evening classes at a local community college for web development. The most important thing I learned is to be completely transparent from the start. When I first enrolled, I called the NYS Department of Labor (took forever to get through) and explained my situation. They told me that as long as I could prove I was still actively job searching and available for work during normal business hours, it would be fine. I made sure all my classes were after 6 PM and kept detailed records of every job application I submitted, including screenshots and timestamps. On my weekly certifications, I always checked "yes" to attending school but included a note that it was evening classes and didn't interfere with my work availability. Never had any issues with my benefits, and honestly the structure of having classes helped keep me motivated during the job search. The skills I learned in those classes actually helped me land my current job! Just make sure you're prepared to prioritize work if you get an offer that conflicts with class times.

I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far. I enrolled in evening accounting classes at my local SUNY campus about a month ago while collecting UI benefits. The key things that have worked for me: 1) I called NYS DOL before enrolling to get guidance (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through), 2) All my classes are after 6 PM so there's zero conflict with work availability, 3) I'm completely transparent on my weekly certifications - I check yes for school attendance and add a note that it's evening classes only, and 4) I keep screenshots of every job application with timestamps to show I'm still actively searching during business hours. So far no issues with my benefits, and I've actually had two interviews where employers were impressed that I was using unemployment time to gain relevant skills. The structure has helped me stay motivated and organized with my job search too. Just make sure whatever program you choose has flexible policies in case you need to miss class for interviews or if you land a job quickly!

This entire discussion has been so incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation - collecting UI for about 7 weeks now and have been really torn about whether to enroll in a healthcare administration certificate program at my community college. The classes would be Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30-9:30 PM, which leaves me completely available during business hours. What's really reassuring is seeing how many people have successfully balanced both without any issues with their benefits. The key takeaways I'm getting are: be completely transparent on weekly certifications, keep detailed job search records with timestamps, ensure classes don't conflict with work availability, and be prepared to prioritize employment if needed. I especially appreciate hearing from people like @CosmicCowboy and @Ava Garcia who are sharing real experiences rather than just speculation. The fact that employers have actually viewed continuing education positively during interviews is really encouraging - it shows initiative rather than looking like you're not focused on finding work. I think I'm going to move forward with enrollment and follow everyone's advice about calling NYS DOL first to get their guidance on my specific situation. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion!

I'm also considering taking classes while on unemployment and this thread has been incredibly informative! I've been collecting UI for about 4 weeks and was really nervous about potentially affecting my benefits. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm feeling much more confident about enrolling in an evening nursing prerequisite program at my local community college. The classes would be Tuesday and Thursday from 7-10 PM, which keeps my entire day free for job searching and interviews. It's so reassuring to see multiple success stories where people not only maintained their benefits but actually found that employers viewed their continuing education positively. I'm planning to follow all the advice shared here - calling NYS DOL first (probably using that Claimyr service), being completely transparent on weekly certifications, keeping detailed job search records, and making sure I can prioritize work if needed. Healthcare is definitely a growing field in my area, so this feels like a strategic investment in my future rather than just killing time. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this community discussion has been more helpful than anything I could find on the official websites!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm new to unemployment benefits (just started collecting 3 weeks ago) and was really worried about whether I could pursue evening classes without messing up my claim. Reading all these real experiences from people who've successfully balanced both has given me so much confidence. I'm particularly impressed by how organized everyone has been - keeping detailed job search records, being transparent on weekly certifications, and making sure work availability stays the priority. I'm looking at a digital design certificate program that meets only on weekends, which would leave my entire workweek completely open for job opportunities. After seeing all the success stories here and how employers have actually viewed continuing education positively, I feel like this could be a smart investment in my future rather than a risk to my benefits. Planning to call NYS DOL first using that Claimyr service that several people mentioned to get official guidance. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences - this community discussion has been more valuable than any official resource I've found!

I'm also navigating this same situation and wanted to add my experience from when I researched this extensively a few months ago. I ended up speaking with three different NYS DOL representatives (through Claimyr - totally worth it) and they all gave me consistent guidance: evening or weekend classes are generally fine as long as you can demonstrate you're still "able and available" for full-time work. What really helped me was creating a simple document outlining my class schedule, job search plan, and how I'd handle any conflicts - I never needed to submit it, but having it organized helped me feel confident when reporting school attendance on my weekly claims. I also discovered that NYS DOL actually has a specific provision for "approved training" that can sometimes waive the work search requirement entirely, though that's typically for state-funded programs. For regular college classes like you're considering, the key is just maintaining that work availability and being transparent. The fact that you're thinking about this proactively shows you're approaching it responsibly. I'd definitely recommend that call to NYS DOL first - it takes the guesswork out of the equation and gives you official guidance for your specific situation.

I'm in a very similar situation and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I've been on UI for about 5 weeks and was really hesitant about enrolling in evening business classes because I was worried about jeopardizing my benefits. After reading everyone's real-world experiences, I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward. The consistent advice about transparency, maintaining work availability during business hours, and keeping detailed records seems to be the winning formula. I'm particularly encouraged by stories from people like @CosmicCowboy and @Ava Garcia who not only managed both successfully but actually found their new skills helped during interviews. I'm looking at a supply chain management certificate program that meets Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-9 PM, which would leave me completely available during business hours. The program is directly relevant to jobs I'm applying for in logistics and operations. Planning to follow everyone's advice about calling NYS DOL first (definitely using that Claimyr service), being completely honest on weekly certifications, and keeping screenshots of all my job applications with timestamps. It's amazing how this community has turned what felt like a risky decision into a strategic career move. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences!

I'm also in this exact situation and this thread has been a goldmine of information! I've been collecting UI for about 8 weeks and was really torn about enrolling in evening paralegal classes at my community college. Reading through everyone's real experiences has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the confusing official DOL website. The consistent themes I'm seeing are: be completely transparent on weekly certifications, keep detailed job search records with timestamps, ensure classes don't interfere with work availability during business hours, and call NYS DOL proactively for guidance. I'm particularly encouraged by the success stories from people who found that employers actually viewed their continuing education positively during interviews - it shows initiative and professional growth rather than lack of focus on finding work. My paralegal program would be Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 PM, which keeps my entire day free for job searching and interviews. Legal support is a stable field in my area with good growth prospects, so this feels like a strategic use of my time while unemployed. Planning to use that Claimyr service several people mentioned to actually get through to NYS DOL before I enroll. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative discussion - this community knowledge sharing is invaluable!