Do you have to apply for jobs while on unemployment NYS Department of Labor requirements?
I just started collecting unemployment benefits and I'm confused about the job search requirements. My cousin told me you don't have to look for work if you're on standby status, but my friend said NYS Department of Labor requires 3 job searches every week no matter what. I've been logging into the job search system but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. What exactly are the rules? Do I really need to apply for 3 jobs every single week to keep getting my benefits?
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Natalia Stone
Yes, you generally need to conduct 3 work searches per week to maintain your unemployment benefits. This includes applying for jobs, attending job interviews, or participating in reemployment activities. You must log these activities in the NYS Department of Labor online system. However, there are some exceptions - if you're on standby status (temporarily laid off with a return date), you may be exempt from the job search requirement.
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Nolan Carter
•Thanks! How do I know if I qualify for standby status? My employer said they might call me back in a few months but nothing is guaranteed.
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Tasia Synder
i think it depends on your situation?? i've been collecting for 2 months and sometimes i do the job searches sometimes i don't and my payments still come through. the system seems pretty glitchy anyway
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Natalia Stone
•You should be careful about not completing your work searches. NYS Department of Labor does audit claims and if they find you weren't meeting the requirements, they can demand repayment of benefits.
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Selena Bautista
I had a nightmare trying to reach NYS Department of Labor about this exact question. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. The agent explained that standby status is pretty specific - you need a definite return date within 4 weeks usually.
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Mohamed Anderson
•Never heard of that service before but honestly anything is better than trying to call NYS Department of Labor directly. Did they charge you for it?
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Selena Bautista
•They do charge but it was worth it for me since I was stressed about potentially losing my benefits over the job search confusion.
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Ellie Perry
The job search requirement is such BS! Like we're not already stressed enough being unemployed, now we have to waste time applying for jobs we don't even want just to check boxes for NYS Department of Labor. Meanwhile half the job postings are fake anyway.
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Landon Morgan
•I get the frustration but the system is designed to encourage people to find work. The 3 job searches per week isn't that unreasonable if you're actively looking.
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Teresa Boyd
Wait I'm confused now too. I thought if you were in a union you didn't have to do job searches? My dad was on unemployment in the 90s and he said union members were exempt. Has that changed?
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Natalia Stone
•Union members may have different requirements, especially if they're registered with a union hiring hall. You should check with your union representative and verify your specific situation with NYS Department of Labor.
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Jamal Carter
Based on my experience, you definitely need to take the job search requirements seriously. I made the mistake of being inconsistent with my work searches early on and got a notice from NYS Department of Labor asking for documentation. The key is logging into the system every week and recording your activities - even networking events or career fairs count toward your 3 required searches. Don't risk it like some people suggest, because if they audit your claim and find you weren't compliant, you could owe back thousands in benefits.
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Ellie Simpson
•This is really helpful advice, thank you! I've been worried about doing something wrong since this is all new to me. Just to clarify - when you say networking events count, does that include things like LinkedIn messaging or attending virtual job fairs? I want to make sure I'm documenting everything correctly in the system.
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