How does social security affect NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits eligibility?
I'm turning 65 next month and will start receiving Social Security retirement benefits. I also got laid off from my part-time job at a retail store two weeks ago and want to file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor. My neighbor said I can't get both Social Security and unemployment at the same time but I'm not sure if that's true. Does anyone know how Social Security affects your unemployment claim? I was only working 25 hours a week but I really need the unemployment money to help with bills until I can find another part-time job.
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Eli Wang
You can actually receive both Social Security retirement benefits and unemployment benefits in New York. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't consider Social Security as disqualifying income for unemployment claims. However, you still need to meet all the other requirements - being able and available for work, actively seeking employment, and meeting the work search requirements. Since you're looking for part-time work, make sure you indicate that in your job search activities.
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Nora Brooks
•That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to choose between them. Do I need to report my Social Security payments when I file my weekly claims?
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Cassandra Moon
wait really?? my dad has been telling everyone at his senior center that you cant get unemployment if you get social security. he's been out of work for 3 months and never filed because of this
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Eli Wang
•Your dad should definitely file a claim! Social Security retirement benefits don't affect unemployment eligibility in NY. He might have missed out on benefits he was entitled to. Tell him to apply through the NYS Department of Labor website as soon as possible.
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Zane Hernandez
There's some confusion here about different types of Social Security benefits. Social Security RETIREMENT benefits don't affect your unemployment claim. However, if you're receiving Social Security DISABILITY benefits, that's a different story because you're claiming you can't work due to disability, which conflicts with the unemployment requirement that you be able and available for work. Since you mentioned retirement benefits, you should be fine to collect both.
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Genevieve Cavalier
•This is so confusing! I'm on SSDI and was told I couldn't get unemployment. But my friend gets SSI and unemployment both?? What's the difference?
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Zane Hernandez
•SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) have different rules. SSDI generally makes you ineligible for unemployment because it means you can't work due to disability. SSI recipients might be able to work limited hours and could potentially qualify for unemployment if they lose that work. It's complicated and depends on your specific situation.
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Ethan Scott
The system is so backwards! My mother-in-law deals with this exact situation and spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to get a straight answer. The phone lines are constantly busy and when you do get through they put you on hold forever then hang up on you.
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Lola Perez
•I had the same problem trying to reach NYS Department of Labor about a different issue with my claim. After weeks of trying to call, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It saved me so much time and frustration.
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Nathaniel Stewart
Just to add - when you file your initial claim, there's a section where you can indicate you're only seeking part-time work. This is important for people receiving Social Security who might not want full-time employment. The NYS Department of Labor will adjust your work search requirements accordingly, but you still need to show you're actively looking for work within your availability.
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Liam Fitzgerald
I went through this exact same situation last year when I turned 66 and got laid off from my job at a local pharmacy. I was so worried about how it would all work together, but I can confirm that you absolutely CAN collect both Social Security retirement benefits and NYS unemployment benefits at the same time. When I filed my weekly certifications, I did NOT have to report my Social Security payments as income - they're treated completely separately. The key thing is just making sure you're genuinely available for work and doing your required job searches. Since you're looking for part-time work like I was, make sure to specify that when you file so they don't expect you to apply for full-time positions. Good luck with your claim!
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Victoria Jones
•Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who actually went through this exact situation. I was getting stressed about all the conflicting information I was hearing from different people. Your confirmation that you didn't have to report Social Security on your weekly certifications is exactly what I needed to know. I'll make sure to specify part-time work availability when I file my claim. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain how it worked for you!
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