How many jobs per week for unemployment benefits in NYS - confused about the requirements
I just started receiving UI benefits and I'm getting mixed information about how many jobs I need to apply to each week. The NYS Department of Labor website says I need to conduct a 'systematic and sustained' job search but doesn't give an exact number. Some people are telling me 3 jobs per week, others say it's more. I work in retail management and there aren't tons of openings in my area right now. What's the actual requirement? Will they audit my job search log and how strict are they about it?
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Liam McConnell
The NYS Department of Labor doesn't specify an exact number, but the general guideline is at least 3 work search activities per week. This can include job applications, networking events, career fairs, or even informational interviews. Keep detailed records in your job search log with dates, company names, positions applied for, and contact information. They can and do audit these records during eligibility reviews.
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Mei Zhang
•Thanks! So 3 is the minimum but more is better? Should I be documenting everything in the my.ny.gov system or just keeping my own records?
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Amara Oluwaseyi
i think its 3 but not totally sure... i just apply to whatever i can find and keep screenshots of everything. better safe than sorry with these things
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CosmicCaptain
You should aim for 3-4 quality applications per week rather than just throwing applications everywhere. Focus on positions you're actually qualified for in retail management. Document everything: company name, position title, how you applied (online, in person, etc.), date, and any follow-up. The NYS Department of Labor can request this information at any time, and if you can't provide adequate documentation, they can disqualify you for benefits.
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Giovanni Rossi
•What counts as a 'quality' application though? I've been applying to some assistant manager roles since there aren't many GM positions available. Does that hurt my case?
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CosmicCaptain
•Assistant manager roles are fine if they're in your field and you're genuinely qualified. The key is showing you're actively looking for suitable work, not just going through the motions.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about this exact question because their phone lines are always busy. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. The agent confirmed it's 3 minimum but said they look more at the quality and consistency of your search efforts. There's even a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone directly about your specific situation.
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Mei Zhang
•Interesting, never heard of that service. Did they charge you anything to connect you?
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•They focus on the value of getting through rather than the cost. Honestly was worth it just to get a clear answer instead of guessing.
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Dylan Mitchell
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! They expect you to apply to 3 jobs a week but half the job postings online are fake or already filled. I've been documenting everything perfectly for 8 weeks and they STILL questioned my job search during my last phone interview. It's like they're looking for any excuse to cut you off.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•ugh tell me about it. i spend more time documenting my job search than actually searching sometimes
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Sofia Gutierrez
Just to add - make sure you're not just applying online. The NYS Department of Labor likes to see variety in your search methods. I include networking events (even virtual ones), checking with former colleagues, and visiting businesses in person when possible. Mix it up and document all of it.
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GalaxyGlider
I went through this same confusion when I started my claim. The 3 per week is the unofficial standard most people follow, but I learned that networking activities and job fairs count too. What really helped me was setting up job alerts on multiple sites (Indeed, LinkedIn, company websites) so I wasn't scrambling each week to find applications. For retail management, I also reached out to former colleagues and suppliers - sometimes they know about openings before they're posted. Keep everything organized in a spreadsheet with screenshots of your applications. The documentation is crucial if they do audit you.
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Sean O'Donnell
•That's really helpful advice about setting up job alerts! I hadn't thought about reaching out to suppliers - that's actually a great idea since they work with multiple retailers and might know about openings. Did you find that the NYS Department of Labor was pretty understanding about the limited retail management positions available, or did they still expect you to apply to lower-level positions to meet the 3 per week requirement?
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