How many work search activities required for NYS Department of Labor unemployment weekly claim?
I just started receiving unemployment benefits and I'm confused about the work search requirements. My weekly claim certification asks about work search activities but I can't find clear information on exactly how many I need to do each week. Is it 3 activities? 4? And what actually counts as a valid work search activity for NYS Department of Labor? I don't want to mess up my claim by not doing enough or doing the wrong types of activities.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
You need to complete 3 work search activities per week to maintain your unemployment benefits. Valid activities include applying for jobs, attending job interviews, registering with employment agencies, attending job fairs, or participating in reemployment services. Make sure to keep detailed records of each activity including dates, employer names, and contact information.
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Oliver Wagner
•Thank you! Do online job applications count toward the 3 activities? And do I need to apply for jobs that are exactly my previous salary level?
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Javier Mendoza
yes online applications definitely count! i've been doing mostly indeed and linkedin applications and haven't had any issues with my weekly claims
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Emma Thompson
The 3 work search activities per week is correct, but there are some important details. You don't have to limit yourself to your previous salary - you can apply for jobs that pay at least 80% of your previous wage initially, and this percentage may decrease over time. Also, make sure you're applying for jobs you're actually qualified for. NYS Department of Labor can audit your work search log at any time.
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Malik Davis
•Wait, I thought it was 4 activities per week? I've been doing 4 just to be safe but now I'm second guessing myself...
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Emma Thompson
•It's definitely 3 activities per week. Doing 4 won't hurt you, but 3 is the minimum requirement. The confusion might come from other states that have different requirements.
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Isabella Santos
I was struggling to reach NYS Department of Labor agents when I had questions about my work search requirements and kept getting disconnected. Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped me get my work search questions answered without spending hours on hold.
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Oliver Wagner
•That sounds helpful! I've been trying to call for weeks about clarifying what activities count and can never get through.
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StarStrider
Just want to add that attending career workshops or job training programs also count as work search activities. I went to a resume writing workshop at my local workforce center and it counted toward my weekly requirement.
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QuantumQuest
I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 months now and wanted to share some additional tips for work search activities. Besides the standard job applications, you can also count networking events, informational interviews, and even reaching out to former colleagues about potential opportunities. I keep a spreadsheet with all my activities including company names, dates, contact info, and type of activity. The key is being consistent and genuine in your search efforts - don't just do the bare minimum of 3 activities if you're serious about finding work. Also, if you're in a specialized field, don't be afraid to reach out directly to hiring managers on LinkedIn - this counts as a work search activity too!
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Mae Bennett
•This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about networking events and informational interviews counting as work search activities. Do you know if there's a limit to how many of these "non-application" activities can count toward the weekly 3? Like, could I do 2 networking events and 1 job application, or do I need to have a certain number of actual job applications each week?
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