How long between unemployment claims - can I file again after my benefits ended?
My regular UI benefits ran out about 8 months ago and I've been working part-time since then but the hours got cut drastically last month. I'm wondering how long I need to wait between unemployment claims before I can file a new one with NYS Department of Labor? Do I need to work a certain amount of time or earn a minimum amount before being eligible again? I tried looking this up on the my.ny.gov website but couldn't find clear information about the waiting period between claims.
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Sergio Neal
There's no mandatory waiting period between unemployment claims in New York. What matters is whether you've earned enough wages in your new base period to qualify for a fresh claim. You need wages in at least two quarters of your base period and total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. Since you've been working part-time for 8 months, you should have enough qualifying wages to establish a new benefit year.
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Leslie Parker
•That's a relief! So I can file as soon as my hours were reduced? I was worried there was some kind of cooldown period after exhausting benefits.
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Savanna Franklin
yeah i filed again right after my benefits ended last year, no waiting required as long as you worked enough
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Juan Moreno
The key thing is that NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings over the past 15-18 months to determine if you qualify for a new claim. Since your previous claim exhausted 8 months ago and you've been working since then, your new base period will include different quarters than your last claim. You'll likely qualify for a completely new benefit year with a new weekly benefit amount based on your recent part-time earnings.
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Amy Fleming
•Wait, so the weekly amount could be different from my last claim? I was making decent money before but this part-time job pays way less.
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Juan Moreno
•Yes, your weekly benefit amount will be recalculated based on the wages in your new base period. If your part-time earnings were significantly lower, your weekly benefit amount will probably be lower too.
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Alice Pierce
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to file my second claim because their phone lines are always jammed. Someone here recommended using Claimyr to get connected to an actual agent without waiting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier when I had questions about my new claim.
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Leslie Parker
•Thanks for the tip! I was dreading having to call them again. The last time I tried calling it took me 3 hours to get through.
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Esteban Tate
The unemployment system is so confusing with all these different rules! I thought you had to wait a full year between claims but apparently not. Why don't they make this information easier to find on their website??
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Sergio Neal
Just to clarify the process - when you file your new claim, make sure you report that your hours were reduced rather than saying you quit or were fired. Reduction in hours is good cause for filing and shouldn't trigger any adjudication issues. You'll need to provide your recent pay stubs to verify your earnings for the new base period calculation.
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Leslie Parker
•Good point about how to report it. I definitely don't want to get stuck in adjudication again like what happened with my first claim.
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