Can you get unemployment if your school closes unexpectedly in NY?
My trade school just shut down last week with only 3 days notice and I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I was in a 9-month program and had about 4 months left. I wasn't working while attending because it was full-time classes. Do students qualify for UI benefits when their school closes? I've never filed for unemployment before and don't know if my situation even counts.
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Jessica Nguyen
This happened to my cousin a few years ago when her cosmetology school closed. She couldn't get regular unemployment because she wasn't working before the school closed. You need to have worked and earned wages to qualify for UI benefits.
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Cameron Black
•That's what I was afraid of. I worked part-time at a restaurant before starting school but that was almost a year ago. Does that count for anything?
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Isaiah Thompson
Actually, there might be options depending on your specific situation. If you were working while attending school or if you left a job to attend this program, you could potentially qualify. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your work history over the past 18 months. You should definitely apply and let them determine eligibility rather than assuming you don't qualify.
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Cameron Black
•I worked at the restaurant until about 13 months ago, so it might still be within that timeframe. Should I just apply online through the NYS website?
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Isaiah Thompson
•Yes, apply through labor.ny.gov. Make sure to explain your situation clearly in the application about the school closure.
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Ruby Garcia
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a mess!! my friend tried to get benefits when her nursing program got canceled and they jerked her around for MONTHS. good luck getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor on the phone
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Alexander Evans
•I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to NYS Department of Labor when I couldn't reach anyone. They have a system that calls for you and connects you to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Evelyn Martinez
There's also the possibility that if your school was accredited and you're eligible for a closed school discharge of student loans, there might be additional support available. Contact your state's higher education agency as well as filing with NYS Department of Labor. Document everything about the school closure - dates, notifications, any communications.
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Cameron Black
•Good point about documenting everything. I saved all the emails they sent about the closure. The school said they're trying to help students transfer to other programs but nothing concrete yet.
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Benjamin Carter
my sister went thru something similar but it was a beauty school that closed. she ended up having to start working again right away because she couldn't get unemployment. really depends on your work history i think
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