How long do I need to work at a job to get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I just started a new job last month and I'm wondering about unemployment eligibility if things don't work out. How long do you have to work before you can qualify for unemployment benefits in New York? Is it based on hours worked or how long you've been employed? I've heard different things from coworkers and want to make sure I understand the requirements.
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Dominique Adams
It's not about how long you work at one specific job - it's about your total earnings over what's called the 'base period.' For NYS Department of Labor, you need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, with total earnings of at least $2,600. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.
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Isabel Vega
•So if I worked at a previous job for like 8 months last year, that would count toward my eligibility even if I lose this new job?
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Marilyn Dixon
yeah i think you need like 6 months or something but not sure about the exact rules
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Louisa Ramirez
The previous answer is correct about the base period system. You also need to meet the weekly benefit rate requirement - your high quarter earnings need to be at least 1.5 times your total base period earnings divided by 26. It's more complex than just time at one job. If you're concerned about meeting requirements, you can always create an account on ny.gov and check your wage history to see what quarters you have earnings in.
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TommyKapitz
•This is so confusing! Why can't they just say you need X months of work like other states do?
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Angel Campbell
I had a similar question when I was between jobs last year. Honestly, trying to calculate all that base period stuff was giving me a headache. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor who could look up my exact eligibility. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than trying to figure out all the quarters and calculations myself.
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Isabel Vega
•That sounds helpful - did they charge you a lot for that service?
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Angel Campbell
•It was worth it to get a real answer instead of guessing. Plus they actually got me through to an agent which saved me hours of calling.
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Payton Black
Just file a claim and see what happens lol the worst they can do is say no
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Dominique Adams
To summarize for the original poster: your previous work history matters more than your current job length. As long as you've worked enough in the past 18 months to meet the base period requirements, you could potentially qualify even if you only worked your current job for a short time. The key is having sufficient earnings spread across at least two quarters during your base period.
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Mateusius Townsend
Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations! This is really helpful. I had no idea it was based on a base period system rather than just time at one job. @Dominique Adams - when you mention the base period being "the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters," does that mean if I file in January 2025, they'd look at my earnings from January 2024 through September 2024? And would my October-December 2024 earnings not count toward eligibility?
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•That's exactly right about the timing! If you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be January-December 2024 (the first four quarters of the last five completed quarters). Your October-December 2024 earnings would actually count since that's still within the base period. The "lag quarter" that gets excluded is usually the most recent quarter before you file - so if filing in January 2025, the excluded quarter would be October-December 2024, meaning your base period would be January-September 2024. It's confusing but designed to give them time to process wage records from employers.
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Aaliyah Jackson
This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - just started a new job but have been working various jobs over the past couple years. One thing I'm still unclear on: if you meet the base period requirements but then lose your job for cause (like getting fired for poor performance), does that disqualify you from benefits? Or is meeting the wage requirements enough regardless of how you lose the job?
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PixelPioneer
•Getting fired for cause can definitely disqualify you from benefits, even if you meet all the wage requirements. NYS Department of Labor will investigate the circumstances of your job separation. If they determine you were terminated for misconduct or violated workplace policies, you could be denied benefits. However, getting fired for poor performance (as opposed to willful misconduct) is sometimes treated differently - it depends on the specific situation. When you file, you'll need to provide details about why you lost the job, and your former employer can contest your claim if they believe it was for cause.
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Harmony Love
This is such a great breakdown of the base period system! I had always assumed unemployment was just based on how long you worked at your most recent job. One follow-up question - if someone has gaps in employment during that base period (like a few months between jobs), does that affect eligibility as long as you still meet the minimum earnings requirements across those quarters? Or do the earnings just need to be there regardless of when exactly they were earned within each quarter?
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Nasira Ibanez
•Great question! Employment gaps during the base period don't disqualify you as long as you meet the earnings requirements. The system only cares about total wages earned in each quarter, not whether you worked continuously. So if you worked January-March, took off April-June, then worked July-September, you'd still have earnings in two quarters which could meet the minimum requirements. The timing within each quarter doesn't matter either - whether you earned $3000 in the first week of a quarter or spread it throughout the three months, it all counts the same toward that quarter's total.
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Jamal Washington
This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to New York and had no idea the unemployment system was so different from other states I've lived in. The base period calculation seems much more complex but also potentially more flexible than just requiring a specific number of months at one job. One thing I'm curious about - do seasonal workers or people with irregular income (like gig workers or contractors) face any special challenges with meeting these base period requirements? It seems like the quarterly earnings system might make it harder for people who don't have traditional full-time employment to qualify.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•You're absolutely right that the quarterly system can be challenging for gig workers and seasonal employees! Since many gig workers are classified as independent contractors, their earnings often don't get reported to the state unemployment system the same way traditional W-2 wages do. This can make it much harder to meet the base period requirements even if they've been working consistently. Seasonal workers might have an easier time if they work for employers who properly report wages, but they still need to navigate the timing of when their earnings fall within those specific quarters. Some states have been expanding unemployment eligibility for gig workers, but New York's traditional system still heavily favors conventional employment relationships.
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