Do I need to pass a drug test for unemployment benefits in New York?
I'm about to file for unemployment after losing my job and I'm wondering if NYS Department of Labor requires drug testing to get benefits? I've heard different things from people and want to know what to expect. Is this something they do randomly or only if you're referred to certain jobs? Really need to understand the process before I submit my claim.
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Anastasia Popov
New York doesn't require drug testing just to receive regular unemployment benefits. You won't need to take a drug test when filing your initial claim or for weekly certifications. However, if you're referred to a job through the job search requirements and that employer requires pre-employment drug screening, you'd need to comply with their hiring process.
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NeonNinja
•That's a relief! So it's really just if a potential employer requires it, not the NYS Department of Labor itself?
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Sean Murphy
yeah i never had to take any drug test for my UI benefits, been collecting for 2 months now and they never asked
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Zara Khan
The only time drug testing becomes an unemployment issue is if you were terminated for failing a workplace drug test. That could potentially affect your eligibility and might require an adjudication review. But for standard claims where you were laid off or lost your job for non-misconduct reasons, there's no drug testing requirement from NYS Department of Labor.
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Luca Ferrari
•Wait, so if someone got fired for failing a drug test at work, they can't get unemployment at all?
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Zara Khan
•It depends on the circumstances and would go through adjudication. NYS Department of Labor would review whether it constitutes misconduct that disqualifies you from benefits. Each case is different.
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Nia Davis
I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor to clarify something similar about my claim requirements. Kept getting busy signals and the online chat never worked. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Got my questions answered in one call instead of spending weeks trying to reach someone.
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NeonNinja
•Interesting, might need to check that out if I run into problems with my claim. Thanks for sharing!
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Mateo Martinez
Just want to add that if you're in a job training program through Workforce Development, some of those programs might have their own requirements, but that's separate from your basic UI eligibility. The NYS Department of Labor website has info about job search requirements but I don't remember seeing anything about drug testing there.
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Mei Zhang
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I was really worried about this since I've heard so many conflicting stories. It's good to know that NYS Department of Labor doesn't require drug testing for regular unemployment benefits. I was laid off due to company downsizing, so it sounds like I should be fine to file my claim without worrying about any testing requirements. Really appreciate the clarification about it only being an issue if you were fired for failing a workplace drug test - that definitely doesn't apply to my situation.
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Ravi Patel
•Glad this thread helped clear things up for you! Layoffs due to company downsizing are pretty straightforward cases - you should definitely be eligible for benefits without any drug testing concerns. Just make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file. The process can be a bit overwhelming at first but it sounds like you're in a good position to get approved. Good luck with your claim!
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