How long do I need to work somewhere to get NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?

You don't need to work a full year at one job to qualify for unemployment benefits. NYS Department of Labor looks at your total earnings over what's called your base period, which is usually the first four quarters of the last five completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $2,900 in your highest-paid quarter and have total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. So if you made $3,000 in your best quarter, you'd need at least $4,500 total in the base period.

Actually, if you've only been working for 2 months, you probably won't have enough work history in your base period to qualify for regular unemployment. The base period typically looks back about 15-18 months from when you file. However, there's something called the Alternate Base Period that uses more recent quarters if you don't qualify under the regular base period. You should definitely apply anyway because the NYS Department of Labor will determine your eligibility based on all your previous work history, not just your current job.

Wait I'm confused about the base period thing. I thought you just needed to work for like 3 months or something? When I got laid off from my restaurant job last year they approved my claim right away and I hadn't been there that long. Maybe it depends on how much you made?

I was in a similar situation last year when I got let go from a temp job. I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to ask about my eligibility - their lines are always busy. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. It was way easier than trying to call myself for hours. The agent was able to look at my work history and explain exactly what I qualified for.

Just file anyway if you lose your job. The worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised. I didn't think I qualified when I got laid off because I'd switched jobs a lot, but it turned out my wages from different employers all counted together. The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefits calculator you can try first too.