NYS Department of Labor different types of unemployment benefits - need help understanding what I qualify for
I'm really confused about all the different types of unemployment benefits available through NYS Department of Labor. I was laid off from my retail job last month and when I went to file my claim, there were so many different options and categories mentioned. Can someone break down what are the different types of unemployment benefits in New York? I want to make sure I'm applying for the right one. My manager said something about regular UI vs other programs but I have no idea what that means. Any help would be appreciated!
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Zoe Papanikolaou
There are several main types of unemployment benefits in NY. Regular UI (unemployment insurance) is the most common - that's what you'd get if you were laid off through no fault of your own. There's also Partial UI if you're working reduced hours. Then there's standby status if your employer expects to call you back within a specific timeframe. The NYS Department of Labor website has a good breakdown of eligibility requirements for each type.
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Andre Dupont
•Thank you! So since I was laid off completely, regular UI would be what I need to apply for? My employer didn't mention anything about calling me back.
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Jamal Wilson
dont forget about extended benefits if regular UI runs out, though those arent always available depending on unemployment rates in the state
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Mei Lin
Here's the breakdown: Regular UI is your standard unemployment for people who lost jobs involuntarily. Partial UI is for reduced work hours. Standby lets you skip job search requirements if your employer plans to recall you within 8 weeks. There's also disaster unemployment assistance in extreme situations, though that's rare. Each has different weekly claim requirements and job search obligations through NYS Department of Labor.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•Wait, I thought standby was only for seasonal workers? I've been on standby for 6 weeks and my employer keeps saying 'maybe next week' for calling me back. Should I switch to regular UI?
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Mei Lin
•Standby isn't just for seasonal work, but if your recall date keeps getting pushed back beyond the original timeframe, you should definitely contact NYS Department of Labor about switching to regular UI. You don't want to miss out on job search opportunities.
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GalacticGuru
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this same question! The phone lines are always busy and the online chat never works. I finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Andre Dupont
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money while waiting for my claim to process.
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GalacticGuru
•I was worried about the same thing, but honestly it was worth it just to get my questions answered quickly instead of spending days trying to reach someone. The peace of mind was huge.
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Amara Nnamani
The whole system is so confusing!!! Why can't they just make it simple - unemployed = benefits. Instead we have regular UI, partial UI, standby, extended benefits, disaster benefits... it's like they WANT people to mess up their applications.
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Giovanni Mancini
One thing to remember is that your benefit type can change during your claim period. I started on standby because my restaurant said they'd reopen in 4 weeks, but when that didn't happen I had to switch to regular UI. The transition was pretty smooth through the my.ny.gov portal, but I had to restart my job search log from that point forward.
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Emma Davis
As someone who just went through this process, I can add that there's also Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade competition - not common but worth mentioning. Also, @Andre Dupont, make sure when you file for regular UI that you have all your employment history for the past 18 months ready. The NYS Department of Labor system will ask for detailed info about each employer including dates, wages, and reason for separation. It's much easier if you gather all that beforehand rather than trying to remember during the application process.
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