How long you have to work to get unemployment benefits in NY - confused about work requirements

The work requirement in NY isn't about how long you worked, it's about how much you earned. You need to have earned at least $2,700 in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). Since you made $18,000 over 8 months, you should definitely meet the earnings requirement. You also need to have worked in at least 2 quarters during your base period. File your claim as soon as possible since benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you were laid off.

yeah i think you qualify but you should have filed right after you got laid off in december! you're missing out on weeks of benefits. the nys department of labor website has all the info but its confusing as hell

Don't panic about the delay - you can still file now. The key requirements are: 1) Minimum $2,700 in wages during base period, 2) Worked in at least 2 quarters, and 3) Lost job through no fault of your own (layoffs qualify). Your restaurant earnings should cover the wage requirement easily. When you file, you'll need your Social Security number, employer information, and dates of employment. The NYS Department of Labor will verify your wages through their system.

I was in a similar situation last year trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask about my work history. Kept getting busy signals or getting hung up on after waiting forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Was way easier than spending hours trying to call myself. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

The system is so confusing they make it hard on purpose!! I worked for 15 years and still had trouble figuring out if I qualified when I got laid off. They should just make it simple - if you worked and paid into the system you should get benefits PERIOD.

Just want to add that restaurant workers sometimes have issues with tip reporting affecting their wage records. Make sure all your tips were properly reported to the NYS Department of Labor through your employer's payroll system, otherwise your base period wages might be lower than expected.

@Mei Zhang definitely file as soon as possible! I went through this same situation a few months ago and was also worried about qualifying. The earnings-based system actually works in your favor - $18,000 over 8 months is way above the $2,700 minimum. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to certify for benefits weekly and actively look for work. The NYS Department of Labor website has a step-by-step guide for filing your initial claim. Don't let the delay stress you too much - I know people who filed months later and still got approved. The important thing is getting started now!