How to be eligible for unemployment benefits - NYS Department of Labor requirements explained
I'm trying to understand what makes someone eligible for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My job was eliminated last month and I'm not sure if I qualify. I worked for the same company for 2 years but it was part-time averaging about 25 hours per week. Do I need to have worked full-time to be eligible? Also heard something about needing to earn a certain amount - what's the minimum? And what about the job search requirements once you start getting benefits? Any help understanding the basic eligibility rules would be appreciated.
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Dylan Evans
You don't need to work full-time to qualify for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits. The key requirements are: 1) You must have worked and earned wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), 2) You must have earned at least $2,900 in your highest quarter, 3) Your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings, and 4) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. Part-time work can definitely qualify you as long as you meet the wage requirements.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•Thanks! That's really helpful. I think I meet those wage requirements since I was making about $18/hour. What exactly counts as 'no fault of your own' though?
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Sofia Gomez
Being unemployed 'through no fault of your own' means you were laid off, your position was eliminated, you were fired for reasons other than misconduct, or your hours were significantly reduced. If you quit voluntarily or were fired for misconduct, you typically won't qualify. Once you start receiving benefits, you'll need to complete your weekly claim certification and meet job search requirements - usually applying to at least 3 jobs per week and keeping a log of your search activities.
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StormChaser
•The job search thing is really important. NYS Department of Labor can audit your search activities at any time so make sure you keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and what positions.
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Dmitry Petrov
One thing to add - you also need to be able and available for work. This means you can't be going to school full-time, you can't have medical restrictions that prevent you from working, and you need to be actively seeking employment. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about this requirement.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•Good to know about the school thing. I was thinking about taking some online classes while job hunting but sounds like that could be a problem.
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Dylan Evans
•Part-time classes are usually okay as long as they don't interfere with your availability for work. Full-time enrollment typically disqualifies you unless you're in an approved training program.
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Ava Williams
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to verify my eligibility status last year. The phone lines are always busy and the callback system didn't work for me. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual agent pretty quickly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was worth it to get my questions answered directly instead of guessing about the requirements.
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Miguel Castro
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything that helps you actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor sounds useful. Their customer service is terrible.
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StormChaser
Don't forget you also can't be receiving other types of compensation that might affect your eligibility. Things like severance pay, vacation payouts, or disability payments can impact when you can start collecting or how much you get. Make sure to report all income when you file your initial claim.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•I did get a small severance payment. Should I wait to file until after that period ends or file now and report it?
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Sofia Gomez
•File now and report the severance. NYS Department of Labor will determine how it affects your benefit timing. Don't wait because there's a time limit on when you can file after becoming unemployed.
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Gemma Andrews
•@Sofia Gomez is right about filing ASAP. I made the mistake of waiting when I had severance and almost missed the deadline. NYS Department of Labor has specific rules about how severance affects your waiting period, but you need to get your application in first. They ll'calculate everything based on when you report it during your weekly certifications.
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Diego Rojas
Just wanted to add that the waiting week requirement has been waived in New York, so you can potentially start receiving benefits immediately after your claim is approved if you meet all other requirements. Also, make sure you file your claim online through the NY.gov portal - it's faster than calling and you'll get confirmation of your submission. The system will walk you through calculating your base period wages, so have your pay stubs or W-2 ready when you apply. Good luck with your claim!
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