Got laid off from construction job - can I collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?

Yes, getting laid off typically qualifies you for unemployment benefits in New York. Since it wasn't your fault (involuntary separation), you should be eligible. File your claim ASAP because there's a waiting week and benefits are based on when you file, not when you lost the job. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your employer's information. Construction layoffs are super common in winter - NYS Department of Labor sees tons of these seasonal claims.

File immediately! Even if they might call you back, you need to protect yourself financially. You can always stop claiming if you get called back to work. The key thing is you were laid off through no fault of your own - that's exactly what unemployment insurance is for. Just make sure when you file your weekly claims you're honest about any callback expectations and mark that you're able and available for work.

Construction worker here too and I've been through this drill multiple times. Winter layoffs are brutal but unemployment definitely helps bridge the gap. One thing - if your company has a history of seasonal layoffs and callbacks, you might want to ask about standby status instead of regular UI. Sometimes that works better for construction since you have a definite employer to return to. But honestly the regular unemployment process is pretty straightforward if you just got laid off.

Just went through this exact same thing last month when my company did layoffs. The hardest part honestly was getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to check on my claim status. I kept calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful since I could actually talk to someone about my specific situation.

The unemployment system in this state is ridiculous. You pay into it your whole working life and then when you actually need it they make it impossible to get help. Half the time the website doesn't work and good luck ever reaching a human on the phone. But yeah OP you should definitely file - just be prepared for potential headaches with the process.

Hey Chloe, definitely file right away! I'm a union electrician and go through this every winter. Getting laid off absolutely qualifies you for unemployment - it's not your fault and that's exactly what the system is designed for. Don't wait to see if they call you back because you could be missing out on weeks of benefits. You can apply online at labor.ny.gov and you'll need your SSN, driver's license, and info about your employer and wages from the last 18 months. The process takes about 30 minutes online and is way easier than calling. Construction seasonal layoffs are super common so they're used to processing these claims. Just make sure to file your weekly certifications on time once you're approved.