How does someone qualify for unemployment in NY - confused about NYS Department of Labor requirements
I'm trying to help my sister figure out if she can get unemployment benefits but honestly I'm confused about all the requirements. She worked at a restaurant for about 8 months before they let her go last week because business was slow. She made around $400 a week when she was working full time. Does anyone know what the basic qualifications are for NYS Department of Labor unemployment? Like how long do you have to work and how much do you need to earn? I've heard different things from different people and want to make sure she doesn't waste time applying if she won't qualify.
10 comments
Join the conversation
Gianna Scott
The basic requirements are pretty straightforward. She needs to have worked for at least two quarters during her base period and earned a minimum amount. For 2025, she needs at least $3,300 in total wages during her base period, with at least $2,200 in her highest quarter. Since she worked 8 months and made $400/week, she should easily meet the wage requirements. The key is that she was let go through no fault of her own - being laid off due to slow business counts as that.
0 coins
Edwards Hugo
•That's really helpful! What exactly is the base period though? Is that just the last year she worked?
0 coins
Gianna Scott
•The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if she files now in January 2025, it would be July 2023 through June 2024. But there's also an alternate base period that uses more recent quarters if the regular one doesn't work.
0 coins
Alfredo Lugo
She also has to be able and available to work, and actively looking for a job. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to do at least 3 work search activities each week and keep a log of what you did. They can ask to see it anytime so make sure she keeps good records if she gets approved.
0 coins
Sydney Torres
•ugh the work search thing is so annoying, they make you jump through so many hoops just to get benefits you already paid into
0 coins
Kaitlyn Jenkins
Getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about eligibility is nearly impossible with their phone system. I spent hours trying to call when I had questions about my claim. Eventually found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than trying to navigate the phone maze myself.
0 coins
Edwards Hugo
•Interesting, I'll keep that in mind if we run into issues. Hopefully the online application is straightforward enough that we won't need to call.
0 coins
Caleb Bell
Make sure she applies as soon as possible! There's a waiting week but benefits are only paid from the week you actually file, not from when she lost her job. Also she can't have quit voluntarily or been fired for misconduct - sounds like neither applies to her situation since it was a layoff.
0 coins
Edwards Hugo
•Good point about filing right away. She's been putting it off because she wasn't sure if she qualified but sounds like she should just go ahead and apply.
0 coins
Danielle Campbell
same thing happened to my cousin last year, restaurant laid her off and she got approved no problem. the hardest part is just waiting for them to process everything
0 coins