How do I know if I qualify for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
I just lost my job last week and I'm not sure if I'm eligible for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My employer said I was laid off due to budget cuts but I'm worried there might be something that disqualifies me. I worked there for about 8 months and before that I had a part-time job for 6 months. Does anyone know what the basic requirements are? I don't want to file a claim if I'm just going to get denied.
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Sophia Gabriel
The main requirements for NYS Department of Labor unemployment are pretty straightforward. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least 2 of the last 4 quarters, be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs count), be physically able to work, and actively seeking employment. Since you were laid off due to budget cuts, that should qualify as 'not your fault.' With 8 months at your recent job plus 6 months before that, you likely have enough work history.
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Vince Eh
•That's a relief! Do they look at how much I earned or just that I worked? My part-time job didn't pay much.
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Tobias Lancaster
You'll need to meet the wage requirements too. In New York, you need to have earned at least $3,300 in your highest earning quarter during your base period. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. NYS Department of Labor will calculate this automatically when you apply, so don't stress about doing the math yourself.
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Ezra Beard
•This is helpful info. I was wondering about the wage thing too since my hours got cut before I was laid off.
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Statiia Aarssizan
Just apply honestly and let NYS Department of Labor determine your eligibility. The worst thing that happens is they say no, but if you were laid off through no fault of your own and worked steadily, you're probably fine. The application process itself will walk you through everything and they'll verify your work history with your employers.
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Vince Eh
•Good point. I was overthinking it. Better to apply and find out than assume I don't qualify.
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Reginald Blackwell
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i applied last month and they wanted like a million documents. just be prepared for them to ask for everything
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Aria Khan
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get answers about your specific situation, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me get clarity on my eligibility questions.
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Everett Tutum
•Interesting, never heard of that. The phone lines are definitely impossible to get through to.
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Genevieve Cavalier
One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify, there's usually a waiting week before benefits start. So don't panic if you don't see payments right away after filing. Also, make sure you have all your employment info ready - dates of employment, employer addresses, reason for separation, etc. NYS Department of Labor will need this for each job you've had in the past 18 months. The online application saves your progress so you can come back to it if you need to gather documents.
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Emma Taylor
•Thanks for mentioning the waiting week - I had no idea about that! Good to know so I can plan accordingly. Do you know if the 18 months of employment history includes part-time work too, or just full-time jobs?
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