Can you collect unemployment while waiting for disability approval in NY?
I'm really confused about something and hoping someone here can help. I applied for disability benefits back in October but obviously that's going to take months to get approved (if it even gets approved). My doctor says I can't do my old job as a warehouse supervisor anymore because of my back injury, but I might be able to do some kind of desk work or something less physical. The thing is, I haven't found anything yet and I'm running out of savings. Can I file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor while I'm waiting to hear back about my disability claim? I'm worried they'll conflict with each other or that I'll get in trouble for double-dipping or something. I really need some income coming in but don't want to mess up either claim.
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Zadie Patel
Yes, you can potentially collect unemployment while your disability claim is pending, but there are some important requirements you need to meet. The key thing is that you have to be able and available for work - meaning you can perform some type of work even if you can't do your previous job. Since your doctor says you might be able to do desk work, that could qualify you. When you file your weekly claim with NYS Department of Labor, you'll need to certify that you're actively looking for work that you can physically perform. You should also be upfront about your limitations when applying for jobs.
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Ali Anderson
•Thank you! So I should mention on my job applications that I have some physical restrictions? I wasn't sure if that would hurt my chances of getting hired.
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A Man D Mortal
Just went through this exact situation last year. You definitely can collect UI while waiting for disability, but you have to be genuinely looking for work you can do. I kept a detailed job search log showing I was applying for office jobs and administrative positions that didn't require heavy lifting. NYS Department of Labor never gave me any problems about it. The disability and unemployment are handled by completely different agencies so there's no automatic conflict. Just make sure you report any work you do on your weekly claims.
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Declan Ramirez
•How long did your disability claim take to process? I've been waiting 4 months already.
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A Man D Mortal
•Mine took about 8 months total. The initial decision was a denial, then I had to appeal and that's when it got approved. The unemployment benefits really helped bridge that gap.
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Emma Morales
I tried calling NYS Department of Labor about this same question months ago but could never get through to an actual person. The automated system doesn't help with complicated situations like this. Have you been able to reach anyone there? I ended up just filing and hoping for the best, which probably wasn't the smartest approach.
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Zadie Patel
•If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone, you might want to check out claimyr.com - they help people get through to unemployment agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used it when I had questions about my claim status and it was way easier than trying to call directly.
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Emma Morales
•Interesting, I'll have to look into that. The phone system is just impossible to navigate.
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Katherine Hunter
wait isn't this like fraud or something?? seems sketchy to collect both
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Zadie Patel
•No, it's not fraud as long as you meet the requirements for unemployment (able and available for work) and you're honest on your applications. The issue would be if you claimed you were totally unable to work for unemployment purposes but then also claimed you were totally unable to work for disability. As long as there's some work you can do, you can qualify for UI while your disability claim is pending.
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Lucas Parker
Been collecting unemployment for 2 months while my disability case is under review. No issues so far. The key thing everyone's mentioned is being able to work in some capacity. I can't do my old construction job but I can do light office work, so I'm applying for those types of positions and documenting everything for my job search requirements.
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Grace Durand
I went through something similar a few years ago when I had to leave my retail job due to a knee injury. The most important thing is to be completely honest and consistent in all your applications and weekly certifications. When I filed for unemployment, I clearly stated my physical limitations and the types of work I could still perform. I also made sure to apply for jobs that matched those capabilities - customer service roles, data entry, reception work, etc. Keep detailed records of your job search activities because NYS requires you to make a certain number of job contacts each week. One tip: consider reaching out to temp agencies that specialize in office work - they often have positions that are perfect for people with physical restrictions and it shows you're actively seeking employment within your limitations.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•This is really helpful advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about temp agencies - that's actually a great idea since they might be more understanding about accommodating physical limitations. Do you remember roughly how many job contacts NYS required per week when you were on unemployment? I want to make sure I'm meeting all the requirements properly.
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