Do I have to apply for jobs while on unemployment benefits in NY?
Just started collecting unemployment after my retail job ended last month. I'm getting conflicting info about whether I actually need to apply for jobs every week to keep getting my benefits. Some people say yes, others say it depends on your situation. I've been checking the boxes on my weekly claim but haven't really been actively job searching yet since I was planning to take a few weeks to figure out what I want to do next. Can someone clarify what the actual NYS Department of Labor requirements are? I don't want to mess up my claim over this.
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Arjun Kurti
Yes, you absolutely need to be actively looking for work each week you claim benefits. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log of your search activities. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or contacting employers directly. You also need to register with your local One-Stop Career Center. The job search requirement is waived only in very specific circumstances like if you're on standby status waiting to be recalled by your employer.
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Ellie Simpson
•Wait, 3 job contacts per week? I thought it was just checking the box that says I looked for work. Where do I find info about the One-Stop Career Center registration?
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Arjun Kurti
•The One-Stop info is on the NY.gov website under workforce development. And yes, it's 3 legitimate job contacts - not just browsing job boards. You need to keep records of company names, contact persons, dates, and how you applied.
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Raúl Mora
been on unemployment twice and honestly the job search thing is pretty loose unless they audit you which almost never happens
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Margot Quinn
•That's terrible advice. If NYS Department of Labor does audit your claim and you can't provide proper job search documentation, you'll have to pay back every penny of benefits plus penalties. It's not worth the risk.
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Evelyn Kim
I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my job search requirements. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who explained everything clearly. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Ellie Simpson
•How much did that cost? I'm already tight on money with the reduced income from unemployment.
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Evelyn Kim
•It was worth it for me to get accurate information instead of guessing. Way less stressful than dealing with the phone system myself.
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Diego Fisher
OMG this is making me panic!! I've been on benefits for 2 weeks and I only applied to like 2 jobs total. Am I going to get in trouble? Do I need to go back and document stuff I already did? What if I can't remember exact dates?? This whole system is so confusing and scary.
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Arjun Kurti
•Don't panic, just start doing it correctly going forward. Keep detailed records from now on and you should be fine. Most audits look at recent activity anyway.
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Henrietta Beasley
same boat here, thanks for asking this question! Really helpful thread.
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Luca Russo
Just to add some clarity - I went through this exact situation last year. The NYS Department of Labor website has a specific section called "Work Search Requirements" that breaks everything down. You need to document your job search activities and be prepared to provide proof if requested. This includes the employer name, position applied for, date of contact, and method of contact. I kept a simple spreadsheet that saved me when I got randomly selected for a review. Also, don't forget that you can count things like updating your resume, attending virtual job fairs, or even informational interviews as valid job search activities. The key is being genuine about your efforts and keeping good records.
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Luca Romano
•This is super helpful! I wish I had seen this before I started panicking. The spreadsheet idea is genius - I'm going to start one today. Quick question though - do virtual job fairs actually count as one of your 3 weekly contacts? And if I attend one job fair but talk to 5 different employers there, does that count as 5 contacts or just 1?
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Evan Kalinowski
•Great question! From what I understand, each employer contact at a job fair counts as a separate contact, so talking to 5 employers would be 5 contacts. Just make sure to document each one separately with the company name and who you spoke with. Virtual job fairs definitely count - I attended a few through the state's workforce development site and they were really helpful. The key is being specific in your records about what you did at each booth or virtual room you visited.
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