How long do I have to work somewhere to get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I just started a new job about 6 weeks ago and I'm already having some issues with my employer. They're cutting my hours drastically and I'm worried I might get let go soon. I know I worked at my previous job for almost 2 years before this one, but I'm confused about the work requirements. How long do you actually have to work at a place to qualify for unemployment in New York? Does it matter if you just started somewhere new or do they look at your whole work history? I don't want to get stuck without any income if things go south here.
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Chloe Zhang
The NYS Department of Labor doesn't require you to work at one specific job for any minimum time period. They look at your entire work history over what's called the 'base period' - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $2,600 in one quarter AND have total earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings during the base period. So your previous 2-year job definitely counts toward this requirement.
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Sophia Carter
•Oh that's really helpful! So even though I just started this new job, my previous work history still matters for qualifying? That makes me feel a bit better about my situation.
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Brandon Parker
yeah i think its like you need to have worked for 18 months total or something but not necessarily at the same place. i got laid off after only 3 months at my job but still qualified because of my work before that
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Adriana Cohn
Just to clarify the previous responses - there's no specific 18-month requirement. The key is meeting the monetary requirements based on your wages during the base period. If you're laid off or hours are cut significantly, you may qualify for unemployment even if you've only been at the current job for 6 weeks. The NYS Department of Labor will calculate your benefit amount based on wages from ALL employers during your base period, not just your current one.
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Jace Caspullo
•This is exactly right. I had a similar situation where I got let go after 2 months but qualified because of my previous job. When I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to verify my eligibility, I ended up using claimyr.com to help me reach an agent. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me the headache of calling for hours.
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Melody Miles
Wait so if they cut my hours can I file for unemployment while still working there?? I thought you had to be completely unemployed to get benefits. This is all so confusing and the NYS Department of Labor website is impossible to navigate.
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Chloe Zhang
•Yes, you can file for partial unemployment if your hours are significantly reduced. You'll need to report any wages you earn each week when you file your weekly claim, and NYS Department of Labor will calculate a partial benefit amount. The key is that your weekly earnings must be less than your weekly benefit rate.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
The whole system is a mess honestly. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months trying to sort out issues with my claim and getting different answers from different people every time I call. But to answer your question - no minimum time at one job required, just need to meet the wage requirements overall.
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Andre Laurent
I went through something similar last year - got laid off after just 2 months at a new job but still qualified for unemployment because of my work history. One thing that helped me understand the requirements was that NYS looks at your "base period" which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters. So if you file in December 2024, they'd look at wages from July 2023 through June 2024. Your 2 years at your previous job should definitely help you meet the wage requirements. If you do end up needing to file, make sure to keep records of your hours being cut - that documentation could be important for your claim.
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Rachel Tao
•This is really helpful Andre, thank you! I didn't realize they look at such a specific time period. Since I worked at my previous job for almost 2 years, it sounds like I should definitely meet those wage requirements. I'm keeping track of my reduced hours now just in case. It's reassuring to know that even being at this new job for only 6 weeks wouldn't disqualify me if things don't work out.
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Zoe Walker
I just want to add that if you do end up filing, don't be discouraged if the online system seems overwhelming at first. I had to file after being at my job for only 8 weeks and was really stressed about navigating the NYS DOL website. What helped me was gathering all my employment documents beforehand - pay stubs from both your current and previous jobs, your Social Security card, and any documentation about the hour cuts. Also, if you're worried about the reduced hours situation, you might want to document when the cuts started and any communication from your employer about it. The system can be frustrating but your work history from your previous 2-year job should definitely help you qualify if you need to file.
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Luis Johnson
•That's really good advice about gathering all the documentation beforehand. I'm dealing with a similar situation where my hours got cut unexpectedly, and I wish I had started keeping better records from day one. It's also worth mentioning that if anyone has trouble getting through to NYS DOL by phone (which seems to be a common issue based on what I'm reading here), you can also try calling early in the morning or later in the day when call volumes might be lower. The peace of mind knowing that your previous work history counts toward eligibility really does help reduce the stress of these uncertain situations.
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Genevieve Cavalier
I was in almost the exact same situation as you last year - started a new job and within 2 months my employer started cutting hours dramatically before eventually letting me go. The good news is that NYS unemployment eligibility is based on your work history over the entire "base period" (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), not just your current job. Your 2 years at your previous job should definitely help you meet the monetary requirements. When I filed, I had to provide wage information from all my employers during that period. If your hours do get cut significantly, you may even qualify for partial unemployment while still employed. I'd recommend starting to document the hour reductions now - dates, original vs. reduced schedules, any written communication from your employer about the cuts. This documentation was really helpful when I filed my claim. The NYS DOL system can be frustrating to navigate, but don't let that discourage you from applying if you need to.
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