How to apply for job attached unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm really confused about this whole process. My employer told me I might be eligible for something called 'job attached unemployment' but I have no idea how to apply for this through NYS Department of Labor. Is this different from regular UI benefits? Do I still need to do the weekly job search or is it different because I'm technically still employed? I tried looking on the my.ny.gov website but couldn't find clear instructions. Can someone walk me through the steps?
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Nia Watson
You're probably talking about what NYS Department of Labor calls 'standby status' or 'shared work benefits.' For standby, you file a regular UI claim but indicate your employer expects to recall you within 8 weeks. You don't have to do the usual job search requirements during this period. Log into my.ny.gov, file your initial claim, and when it asks about your separation reason, select 'temporary layoff with definite recall date.' Make sure your employer provides the recall information.
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Micah Trail
•Oh that makes sense! So I still file through the regular unemployment system? My employer said something about 8 weeks too. Do I still have to do the weekly claims even if I'm on standby?
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Alberto Souchard
yeah i did this last year when my job had temporary layoffs. you still gotta file weekly claims but no job search stuff. just make sure you report it right or they'll make you pay it back later
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Katherine Shultz
There's also the Shared Work Program if your employer is reducing everyone's hours instead of laying people off completely. That's a different application process where your employer has to apply first, then you can collect partial benefits. But if it's a temporary layoff with expected recall, then yes, standby status is what you want. The key is making sure NYS Department of Labor has documentation from your employer about the expected recall date.
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Micah Trail
•How do I know which one applies to me? My hours got cut to zero but they said they'll call me back when business picks up.
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Katherine Shultz
•That sounds like standby status. Shared Work is for when you're still working but with reduced hours. Since your hours are zero with an expected callback, file for regular UI and indicate temporary layoff.
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Marcus Marsh
UGH the NYS Department of Labor website is so confusing about this stuff! I spent HOURS trying to figure out the difference between all these programs. Why can't they just have clear instructions instead of making us guess??
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Hailey O'Leary
I had the worst time trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I was dealing with standby status questions. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person who could explain the standby requirements. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to navigate the phone system myself.
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Micah Trail
•Really? How does that work? I've been dreading trying to call them because everyone says you can never get through.
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Hailey O'Leary
•Yeah, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they reach an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.
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Cedric Chung
Wait I'm so worried now - I filed for regular unemployment last month when I got laid off but my boss just texted saying they might call me back in a few weeks. Did I mess up by not filing for standby? Am I going to have to pay everything back?? This is so stressful I don't know what I'm doing wrong
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Nia Watson
•Don't panic! You can contact NYS Department of Labor to update your claim status if the recall situation changed after you filed. As long as you were honest about your circumstances when you filed, you should be fine. Just report the potential recall information on your next weekly claim.
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Talia Klein
same boat here OP, filed regular UI then found out about standby later. everything worked out fine just had to update my status
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Julian Paolo
This is exactly why I wish NYS Department of Labor would create a simple flowchart or decision tree on their website! Like "Is your employer expecting to recall you within 8 weeks? Yes = standby status, No = regular UI." It's frustrating that we have to piece this information together from forums and hope we're interpreting it correctly. At least this thread is super helpful - I'm bookmarking it in case I ever need to reference the standby vs shared work vs regular UI differences again.
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