Laid off at 65 can I get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
Just got laid off from my job at 65 years old after working there for 12 years. I'm not ready to retire yet and need to keep working for at least a couple more years. Can I still file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor at my age? I know I could start collecting Social Security but I'd rather wait until full retirement age. Has anyone else been in this situation? Do they treat older workers differently when processing claims?
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Sean O'Brien
Age doesn't disqualify you from unemployment benefits in New York. As long as you're able and available to work and actively seeking employment, you can collect UI benefits. The key requirement is that you must be genuinely looking for work - you can't file if you're planning to retire. Since you mentioned wanting to work a couple more years, you should be fine to file a claim.
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Anastasia Smirnova
AuthorThat's reassuring, thank you! I definitely want to keep working. Do I need to prove I'm looking for jobs in my age group or can I apply for any positions in my field?
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Zara Shah
my dad went through this exact same thing when he was 64, no problems at all getting benefits. just had to do the weekly job search requirements like everyone else
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Luca Bianchi
You'll need to file your weekly claims and document your job search activities just like any other claimant. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep records of your search efforts. Age discrimination in hiring is unfortunately real, but that doesn't affect your eligibility for benefits as long as you're actively looking. Make sure to apply online through ny.gov and have your employment history ready.
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Anastasia Smirnova
AuthorGood to know about the 3 job contacts requirement. I wasn't sure what the current rules were.
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GalacticGuardian
I'm worried about this too because I'm 62 and my company just announced layoffs coming next month. Will they question why I'm not just retiring? I don't have enough saved up yet and need my health insurance.
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Sean O'Brien
They won't question your decision not to retire. Unemployment benefits exist specifically for people who lose their jobs involuntarily and want to continue working. Just be honest about your availability and job search efforts.
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Nia Harris
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions about your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify some issues with my claim status.
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Zara Shah
interesting, never heard of that before. did it actually work?
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Nia Harris
Yeah, got through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of trying to call for days. They explained my adjudication issue and helped me understand what documents I needed to submit.
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Kiara Greene
I went through this same situation when I was 66 and got laid off from my marketing job. Filed for unemployment with no issues at all - age is definitely not a disqualifying factor. The only thing they care about is whether you're actively seeking work and available to accept suitable employment. I actually found it helpful to apply for positions slightly below my previous level since employers sometimes assume older workers want too much money or won't stay long. Document everything for your weekly certifications and you'll be fine. Good luck with your job search!
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