Can you get unemployment while in college - NYS Department of Labor rules?
I'm 23 and just got laid off from my part-time job at a retail store where I worked 25 hours a week for the past 8 months. I'm also a full-time student at SUNY finishing my bachelor's degree. My manager said I might be able to get unemployment but I'm not sure if being in college affects that? I was making about $380 a week and really need the money to pay rent. Does anyone know if NYS Department of Labor allows students to collect UI benefits? I'm worried they'll say I'm not available for work because of my class schedule.
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Tristan Carpenter
You can absolutely get unemployment as a college student in NY, but there are specific requirements you need to meet. The key is proving you're available for suitable work despite your class schedule. When you file your weekly claim, you'll need to show you're actively searching for jobs that fit around your classes. Make sure to document your job search activities and be ready to take work that doesn't conflict with your school hours.
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Maya Jackson
•That's helpful! So I just need to prove I'm looking for work that works with my schedule? My classes are mostly Tuesday/Thursday so I should be good for jobs Monday, Wednesday, Friday right?
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Amaya Watson
wait really?? i thought students couldn't get unemployment at all. i'm in community college and my boss told me i wouldn't qualify when they cut my hours last semester
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Tristan Carpenter
•Your boss was wrong. NY doesn't automatically disqualify students. The test is whether you're able and available for work, not your student status. If you can work around your class schedule, you should qualify.
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Grant Vikers
I had this exact situation when I was at NYU in 2023. Filed for unemployment after losing my campus job and it took forever to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to explain my situation. Keep getting stuck in their phone system and never could reach an actual person. Eventually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an agent who clarified everything. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me weeks of frustration trying to call myself.
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Giovanni Martello
•How much did that cost? I'm already broke from losing my job...
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Grant Vikers
•They don't require any personal info upfront and it was worth it to finally talk to someone who could explain the student rules properly. Way better than calling 50 times a day and getting hung up on.
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Savannah Weiner
The job search requirement is the tricky part. You need to be looking for work that fits your availability and be willing to take it if offered. So if you're only available evenings and weekends because of classes, your job search should focus on those types of positions. Keep detailed records of where you apply.
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Maya Jackson
•Good point about keeping records. Should I be applying to like 3 jobs a week or is there a specific number NYS Department of Labor requires?
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Levi Parker
ugh the whole system is so confusing for students. why can't they just have clear guidelines posted somewhere instead of making us guess
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Libby Hassan
•For real! I wasted so much time trying to figure this out when I could have been studying for finals.
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Yuki Yamamoto
Maya, you should definitely apply! As a student, you can absolutely qualify for unemployment in NY as long as you meet the work history requirements (which sounds like you do with 8 months of work) and can show you're available for work that fits your schedule. The key things to remember: 1) You need to actively search for jobs that work around your class times, 2) Keep detailed records of your job applications, and 3) Be honest about your availability when you file. Since you were working 25 hours/week while in school, that shows you can balance both. Don't let your student status discourage you from applying - it's about availability for work, not whether you're in school.
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Sunny Wang
•This is really encouraging to hear! I've been so stressed about whether I'd qualify. Quick question - when you say "actively search for jobs," do you know if there's a minimum number of applications NYS expects per week? I want to make sure I'm doing enough to stay compliant but also don't want to overwhelm myself during finals season.
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