How to be approved for unemployment - NYS Department of Labor requirements?

The main requirements for NYS Department of Labor approval are pretty straightforward. You need to have worked enough quarters to meet the monetary eligibility (usually need earnings in at least 2 quarters during your base period), be unemployed through no fault of your own, be able and available to work, and actively seek employment. Since you were laid off due to budget cuts, that should qualify as being unemployed through no fault of your own. Make sure you file your weekly claims on time and keep detailed records of your job search activities.

You'll need to register with the NYS job bank and document at least 3 work search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews. Keep a detailed log because NYS Department of Labor can request proof at any time. Also make sure you're available for work - if you're going on vacation or have scheduling restrictions, that could affect your eligibility.

I got approved pretty quickly when I filed last year. The key is being completely honest on your application and having all your employment history ready. NYS Department of Labor will verify your wages with your previous employers, so don't try to fudge any numbers. Since you were laid off and didn't quit or get fired for misconduct, you should be fine. Just make sure you file within the first week of becoming unemployed to avoid any delays.

If you run into issues contacting NYS Department of Labor about your application status, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was stuck trying to reach someone for weeks about my adjudication status and this got me connected within a few hours. Really helpful when you need to speak to someone directly about approval requirements or claim issues.

honestly the approval process is such a pain... they make you jump through so many hoops just to get benefits you've already paid into through your taxes. I got denied twice before finally getting approved and it was just because of paperwork technicalities. make sure EVERYTHING is filled out correctly or they'll find some reason to reject you