NYS Department of Labor claim - lost housing during unemployment, how does this affect my benefits?
I've been on unemployment for about 8 weeks now and my situation has gotten really bad. I lost my apartment last month because I couldn't keep up with rent even with the UI payments. I'm staying with friends now but it's not stable. Does being homeless affect my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor? I'm worried they'll think I'm not available for work or something. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and job search requirements but I'm scared to update my address situation. Anyone been through this before?
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Declan Ramirez
Your housing situation should NOT affect your unemployment eligibility as long as you remain able and available for work. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't require a permanent address - you can use a friend's address or even a PO box for correspondence. What matters is that you can receive job offers and report to work if hired. Make sure you update your contact information in the system so you don't miss any important notices.
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A Man D Mortal
•Thank you, that's a huge relief. I was so worried they'd cut off my benefits. Should I call them to update my address or just do it online?
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Emma Morales
been there man, lost my place during my last unemployment stint in 2023. kept getting my benefits the whole time, just had to make sure i could still get to interviews and had a way for employers to reach me. the system doesn't care where you sleep as long as you're looking for work
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A Man D Mortal
•How did you handle the address thing for job applications? I feel like employers might judge me for not having a stable address.
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Emma Morales
•just used my friend's address on applications, nobody ever questioned it. most communication is email anyway these days
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Katherine Hunter
This is so stressful, I can't imagine dealing with homelessness on top of unemployment! Are there any resources through NYS Department of Labor that can help with housing assistance? I know they have job training programs but what about emergency help?
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Lucas Parker
•NYS Department of Labor doesn't directly provide housing assistance, but they can refer you to other state programs. Check with your local Department of Social Services office - they have emergency rental assistance and temporary housing programs. Also look into 211 by dialing 2-1-1, they can connect you with local resources.
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Donna Cline
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I needed to update my information during a similar situation. If you can't get through on the phone (which happens a lot), I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually connect with an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
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A Man D Mortal
•I've been trying to call for days with no luck. I'll check that out, thanks!
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Harper Collins
•Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get disconnected
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Kelsey Hawkins
The whole system is ridiculous! You lose your job, then you lose your home, and they still expect you to jump through all these hoops for a few hundred dollars a week. Meanwhile they make it impossible to actually talk to someone when you have questions. It's like they WANT people to give up and stop claiming.
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Declan Ramirez
•I understand the frustration, but the important thing is that OP knows their benefits shouldn't be affected by their housing situation. The system has problems but in this case the rules actually protect unemployed workers regardless of housing status.
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Harper Collins
Stay strong! The most important thing is don't miss your weekly claims no matter what. Even if you're couch surfing or in a shelter, keep filing every week. I've seen people lose benefits because they missed claims during tough times.
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