How to apply for furlough unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - need guidance

You should file your claim as soon as your furlough begins - don't wait! With NYS Department of Labor, you can file for partial unemployment even if you're still technically employed but not working. You'll need your employer's information, your Social Security number, and details about your last day of work. The key thing is that furloughed workers are eligible for full unemployment benefits since you're earning zero wages during the furlough period.

File online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible. When you file, be honest about your situation - select that you're temporarily laid off or furloughed. NYS Department of Labor has specific options for furlough situations now. You'll need to file weekly claims even during furlough to keep receiving benefits. Make sure you're available and able to work other jobs during this time since that's a requirement.

ugh the NYS Department of Labor system is such a pain to navigate!! I got furloughed last year and it took FOREVER to get through on the phone to ask questions. The website kept crashing when I tried to file my weekly claims. Just be prepared for technical difficulties and long wait times if you need to call them.

same boat here... my restaurant furloughed all servers 2 weeks ago and i still havent heard anything back about my claim. says its under review or something? how long does this usually take???

Just wanted to add that when I was furloughed from my office job, I had to provide documentation proving the furlough wasn't voluntary. NYS Department of Labor required a letter from my employer stating it was due to business conditions beyond my control. Might want to ask HR for something like that.

I went through this exact situation last month when my company furloughed our entire department. Here's what I learned: File your claim immediately on labor.ny.gov - don't wait even a day because there's a waiting period anyway. When filling out the application, there's actually a specific dropdown option for "temporarily laid off/furlough" so you don't have to guess. You'll need your employer's full business name, address, and your supervisor's contact info. The process took about 10 days for me to get my first payment, but I had to call twice to clarify that furlough counts as zero hours worked (not reduced hours). Also keep any emails or documentation from your employer about the furlough - NYS Department of Labor might ask for proof later. Good luck!

I'm in a similar situation - just got furloughed from my retail job yesterday and feeling overwhelmed about the whole process. Reading through everyone's responses here is really helpful! One question I have is about the waiting period that Grace mentioned - does that mean there's automatically a delay before you start receiving benefits, or is that just processing time? Also, for anyone who's been through this, do you have to actively search for other work while on furlough, or does the expectation of returning to your original job count as your work search requirement? I want to make sure I'm following all the rules correctly so I don't mess up my claim.

I went through furlough unemployment with NYS Department of Labor about 6 months ago when my manufacturing company temporarily shut down our production line. Here are some key things I wish I'd known: 1) File your claim the Sunday of the week your furlough starts - the system processes new claims on Sundays and you want to get in the queue early. 2) When they ask about your "last day worked," use the actual last day you worked, not the day your furlough officially begins. 3) Keep checking your online account regularly because sometimes they'll request additional documentation and you only have a limited time to respond. 4) If your employer offers any kind of benefits continuation during furlough (like health insurance), make sure to mention that in your application - it won't affect your UI eligibility but they like to have complete info. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me to see my first deposit, and I was able to collect benefits for the full 7 weeks I was furloughed before getting called back. Don't stress too much - furlough situations are pretty straightforward for them to process!