Can you go to school while on unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I just got laid off from my warehouse job last month and I'm thinking about using this time to finally finish my associate degree. I have about 18 credits left and could do mostly evening classes. But I'm worried the NYS Department of Labor might consider this as not being available for work. Has anyone been able to collect unemployment while taking college classes? I really need the benefits to survive but also want to use this opportunity to improve my situation. What are the rules around this?
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Zara Shah
Yes, you can attend school while collecting unemployment in New York, but there are specific requirements you need to meet. You must still be available for full-time work and actively seeking employment. The key is proving you're available during normal business hours and would accept suitable work if offered. Evening or weekend classes are generally fine as long as they don't interfere with your job search activities.
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Sean O'Brien
•Thanks! So I just need to make sure my class schedule doesn't conflict with potential work hours? Most of my classes would be 6-9pm anyway.
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Luca Bianchi
be careful though because they can ask you to prove youre available for work at any time. i had a friend who got in trouble because she was taking classes during the day and couldnt interview for jobs
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GalacticGuardian
The NYS Department of Labor has specific guidelines about this. You need to continue filing your weekly claims and certifying that you're able, available, and actively seeking work. If you're taking classes that would prevent you from accepting full-time employment during normal business hours, that could be an issue. I'd recommend calling them to discuss your specific situation, but honestly getting through on the phone is nearly impossible these days.
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Nia Harris
•I had the same problem trying to reach them about my own school situation. Spent weeks calling with no luck. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you connected to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was able to get my school questions answered within a day instead of weeks of failed phone calls.
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Sean O'Brien
•That's interesting - I'll check that out. The phone situation is so frustrating when you just need a simple answer.
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Mateo Gonzalez
I went to school full time while on unemployment and never had any problems! You just have to keep looking for work and be honest on your weekly claims. The education can actually help you in the long run.
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Aisha Ali
•Wait, full time? That doesn't sound right. If you're in school full time how can you be available for full time work? That seems like it would violate the availability requirement.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•well i was doing online classes so my schedule was flexible. maybe that made a difference?
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Ethan Moore
Just make sure you're being honest about your availability when you certify each week. The question asks if you were able and available for work - if classes would prevent you from taking a job, you need to answer accordingly. Better to be upfront than risk an overpayment later.
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Javier Torres
I'm in a similar situation - lost my retail job a few weeks ago and considering going back to school. From what I've researched, the key thing is that you have to maintain your availability for work during standard business hours (usually 8am-5pm Monday-Friday). Evening classes like yours should be fine since they don't interfere with typical work schedules. Just make sure you can still attend job interviews, accept work offers, and fulfill the work search requirements. I'd document everything - keep records of your class schedule, job applications, and any communications with potential employers to show you're genuinely available for work despite being in school.
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