How to file for seasonal unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - need guidance
I work at a ski resort upstate and our season just ended. This is my first time dealing with seasonal work and I'm not sure how to file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor. Do I file the same way as regular unemployment? I heard there might be different requirements for seasonal workers. My employer said I should be eligible but didn't give me much detail about the process. Has anyone filed for seasonal unemployment before? What documentation do I need and when should I file?
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StarSailor}
Yes, you file through the same system on my.ny.gov but there are some differences for seasonal workers. You'll still need to file your initial claim and then do weekly certifications. The main thing is that seasonal unemployment is for workers who have a reasonable expectation of returning to the same employer. Make sure you indicate this is seasonal work when filing - there's a specific question about it during the application process.
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Ava Garcia
•Thanks! Should I mention that I expect to go back to the same resort next winter? They usually rehire most of their seasonal staff.
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Miguel Silva
I've done seasonal unemployment for construction work during winter months. The process is pretty straightforward - just file your claim as soon as your season ends. You'll need your employer's information, your Social Security number, and details about your work history. One thing to watch out for is the job search requirement - seasonal workers might have different requirements depending on your situation.
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Zainab Ismail
•Wait, do seasonal workers have to do job searches if they're expecting to return to their employer?
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Miguel Silva
•It depends on the timeframe. If your off-season is longer than a few months, you might still need to show you're available for other work. NYS Department of Labor will clarify this during your claim process.
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Connor O'Neill
ugh the whole system is confusing enough without trying to figure out seasonal stuff!! I tried calling NYS Department of Labor last month about my regular claim and couldn't get through to anyone. Good luck actually talking to a real person about seasonal requirements.
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Yara Nassar
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor. What helped me was using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to an agent. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself and getting busy signals.
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Keisha Robinson
File as soon as possible after your last day of work. Don't wait around thinking about it because there's usually a waiting period anyway. I work summers at a camp and winters doing other stuff, been through this cycle multiple times.
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GalaxyGuardian
Just make sure you're honest about the seasonal nature of your work when filing. NYS Department of Labor takes misrepresentation seriously and you don't want issues later on.
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Liam O'Donnell
I work seasonal at a beach resort and have filed for unemployment during off-seasons multiple times. One important thing to know is that you should file your claim immediately after your last day of work - don't wait even a day because benefits don't start until you file. Also, keep all your employment records from the ski resort including pay stubs and any documentation about your expected return date next season. When you're doing your weekly certifications, you'll need to report that you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same employer. The system will ask you specific questions about seasonal work during the application process.
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Peyton Clarke
•This is really helpful advice! I didn't realize I should file immediately after my last day. Quick question - when you mention keeping employment records, should I also keep any emails or documents from my employer about being rehired next season? I have an email from HR saying they plan to bring back seasonal staff for next winter but nothing official yet.
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