Can you file for unemployment if you haven't worked a year - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

You don't need to work a full year to qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings during your 'base period' which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. As long as you earned enough wages during that base period, you can qualify for UI benefits even if you haven't worked continuously for 12 months.

Yeah I filed after working only 6 months at my job last year and got approved. The key is having enough earnings in your base period quarters. I think you need at least $2,600 in one quarter and total earnings of at least $3,900 in your base period. But definitely apply anyway because the worst they can say is no and you might qualify under the alternate base period if the regular one doesn't work.

wait so if I only worked part time for like 4 months would that count?? I'm so confused by all this base period stuff

The whole system is so confusing honestly. I tried calling NYS Department of Labor like 50 times to ask about my base period and could never get through. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to get answers about my claim eligibility.

Just file the application online through my.ny.gov and let NYS Department of Labor figure out if you qualify. The application will walk you through entering your work history and they'll calculate your base period automatically. Don't stress too much about the requirements beforehand - just apply and see what happens. The process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

I was in a similar situation last year - got laid off after only 10 months at my job and was worried I wouldn't qualify. Turns out I had enough earnings from a previous job that counted toward my base period. The NYS Department of Labor looks at all your covered employment during those quarters, not just your most recent job. So even if you haven't been at your current job for a year, wages from previous jobs within that base period timeframe can help you meet the requirements. Definitely worth applying since they'll do all the calculations for you!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! Got laid off after working only 7 months and was terrified I wouldn't qualify. But like others have mentioned, the NYS Department of Labor doesn't require a full year of work - they look at your base period earnings from all jobs you've had. I actually qualified because I had worked at two different jobs during my base period quarters. The online application at ny.gov really does walk you through everything step by step, and they automatically calculate whether you meet the earnings thresholds. My advice is to gather all your pay stubs and W-2s from any jobs you've had in the past 18 months before you apply - that way you have all the wage information ready. Don't let the stress eat at you, just apply as soon as possible since there can be a waiting period before benefits start. You've got this!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying here - you absolutely do NOT need to work a full year to qualify for unemployment in New York! I was in almost the exact same boat as you Kevin - got laid off after about 9 months at my job and was panicking about whether I'd qualify. The base period calculation saved me because it included wages from a temp job I had worked earlier that year. The NYS Department of Labor website has a pretty good calculator tool that can give you an estimate of your potential benefits before you even apply. Don't let the anxiety paralyze you - just get that application submitted ASAP since the sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits if you qualify. And honestly, even if you think you might not have enough earnings, apply anyway because the worst case scenario is they say no, but you might be surprised and qualify under the alternate base period like others mentioned. Hang in there, you're going to get through this!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to add my experience to this thread since I see so many people going through similar situations. I was laid off after working only 6 months at my job in Rochester, and I was absolutely terrified that I wouldn't qualify for unemployment. But after reading through all these responses and doing some research, I decided to apply anyway. Turns out I qualified because I had worked at a retail job for about 4 months earlier in the year, and those wages combined with my recent job put me over the minimum earnings threshold for my base period. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be. The online application really does guide you through everything, and they calculated my base period automatically. I got my first payment about 3 weeks after applying. My advice to Kevin and anyone else in this situation - don't overthink it, just apply! The NYS Department of Labor will figure out all the complicated calculations for you, and you might be surprised to find out you actually do qualify even with less than a year at your current job.

I just wanted to jump in here because I went through this exact same anxiety last year! Got laid off after only 9 months at my job and spent weeks worrying about whether I'd qualify for unemployment benefits. Like everyone else has said, you absolutely don't need a full year of work - that's a common misconception. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings during specific quarters, not continuous employment at one job. I actually qualified because I had worked a summer job earlier that year plus my main job, even though neither one was a full year. The thing that helped me the most was realizing that stressing about the requirements beforehand was pointless - the online system at my.ny.gov does all the calculations automatically once you enter your work history. Kevin, I totally get the panic about rent and finances, but the best thing you can do right now is just apply immediately. Even if there's any doubt about eligibility, applying right away means you won't lose any potential benefit weeks while you're figuring it out. The application process itself gave me peace of mind because I could see exactly what they were looking at. Don't let fear keep you from potentially getting the help you need during this tough time!