Is supplemental security income the same as unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm really confused about the difference between supplemental security income and regular unemployment benefits. My neighbor said they're basically the same thing but I don't think that's right? I lost my job at the warehouse last month and I'm trying to figure out what I should apply for. Can I get both at the same time? I heard you have to be actively looking for work for unemployment but I'm not sure if that applies to supplemental security income too. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Freya Christensen
No, these are completely different programs! Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal disability program for people who can't work due to disabilities, while unemployment insurance from NYS Department of Labor is for people who lost their job but are able and available to work. You generally can't collect both because unemployment requires you to actively search for work, which contradicts the SSI requirement that you're unable to work.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Oh wow that makes so much sense! I definitely want to work so unemployment is what I need to apply for. Thank you for clearing that up.
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Omar Hassan
yeah my sister gets SSI and she cant work at all because of her condition. unemployment is totally different - you gotta file weekly claims and prove youre looking for jobs and stuff
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Chloe Robinson
The key difference is work capability. For NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits, you must certify weekly that you're able to work, available for work, and actively seeking employment. SSI is specifically for individuals who cannot engage in substantial gainful activity due to disability. The programs have opposite eligibility requirements regarding work capacity.
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Diego Chavez
•This is helpful but I'm still confused about the job search requirements. How many jobs do you have to apply for each week for unemployment?
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Chloe Robinson
•In New York, you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records in your job search log. This includes applications, interviews, networking events, or contacting employers directly.
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NeonNebula
I had so much trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I was applying for unemployment last year. The phone lines are always busy and you get disconnected constantly. I finally used this 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 that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to call myself.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out if I run into problems with my application.
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Anastasia Kozlov
WAIT can you collect both if you become disabled while on unemployment?? Asking for a friend who got hurt at work and is currently getting UI benefits but might need to apply for disability
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Freya Christensen
•That's a complex situation that would need individual review. Generally if someone becomes unable to work while collecting unemployment, they would need to stop certifying for UI benefits since they can no longer meet the 'able and available' requirement. They should contact NYS Department of Labor immediately to discuss their specific situation.
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Sean Kelly
thanks this helped me too! I was getting confused by all the different benefit programs
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