Can you get unemployment if you moved to another state - NYS Department of Labor question
I'm really confused about this situation. I was working in New York for about 8 months before I had to move back home to take care of my sick mom. My job couldn't accommodate remote work so I had to quit. Now I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor even though I'm not physically in New York anymore? I earned all my wages there and paid into the system. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm really stressed about money right now and don't know what my options are.
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Sofia Gomez
Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor even if you've moved to another state. The key factor is where you earned your wages, not where you currently live. Since you worked and earned wages in New York, you should file your claim with NYS Department of Labor. You'll need to register on my.ny.gov and file your initial claim there. Just make sure you're available for work and actively seeking employment in your new location.
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Dylan Evans
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. Do I need to report my new address when I file the claim?
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StormChaser
Wait hold on, didn't you say you quit your job to move? That might be a problem because quitting usually disqualifies you from unemployment unless it's for good cause. Moving to care for a family member might qualify as good cause but you'll probably have to go through adjudication to prove it.
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Dylan Evans
•Oh no, I didn't think about that. What kind of documentation would I need to prove it was for good cause?
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Sofia Gomez
•You're right about the quitting issue. OP will need medical documentation about their mother's condition and proof that care was necessary. NYS Department of Labor considers caring for an immediate family member with a serious health condition as potentially qualifying for good cause, but it has to be documented properly.
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Dmitry Petrov
I had a similar situation last year when I moved from NY to take care of my dad. The adjudication process took forever - like 6 weeks. I couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to check on the status. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person who could explain what was happening with my case. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call repeatedly.
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Dylan Evans
•How long did it take once you got through to someone? I'm really worried about how long this whole process might take.
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Ava Williams
Just want to add that you'll also need to make sure you're following the job search requirements for your new state while collecting NYS benefits. Some states have different rules about what counts as acceptable job search activities.
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Miguel Castro
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple for people who are already going through hard times
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Zainab Ibrahim
•I feel you on that. When my mom was sick I was dealing with so much already and then having to navigate all this bureaucracy on top of it was just overwhelming.
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Julian Paolo
@Dylan Evans, I went through something similar when I moved from NY to Florida to help with my elderly father. A few key things that helped me: 1) Get a letter from your mom's doctor detailing her condition and need for care - this was crucial for proving "good cause" 2) Keep records of any communication with your employer about remote work options (emails, etc.) to show you tried to keep the job 3) File your claim ASAP even while gathering documents - you can submit additional proof during adjudication. The process was stressful but NYS Department of Labor did approve my case once I provided the medical documentation. Hang in there!
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