NYS Department of Labor minimum work time requirement - how long do you have to be at a job to qualify for unemployment?
I'm trying to figure out if I'm eligible for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I was laid off from my job last week but I had only been working there for about 4 months. Before that I was unemployed for almost a year after getting let go from my previous company where I worked for 2 years. Does anyone know what the minimum time requirement is for NYS Department of Labor unemployment? I've heard different things from people - some say 6 months, others say it's based on how much you earned. I'm really stressed about this because I need to know if I should even bother applying or if I should just focus on job hunting instead.
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Charlotte Jones
It's not about how long you worked at your most recent job - NYS Department of Labor looks at your total earnings during what's called the 'base period.' This is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. You need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period and at least $1,300 in your highest earning quarter. So your 2 years at the previous job plus 4 months at the recent job should definitely count toward your base period earnings.
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Logan Greenburg
•Oh wow, so both jobs count? That's a relief! I definitely made more than $2,600 combined between both jobs. Should I include both employers when I file my claim?
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Lucas Bey
yeah i think theres also something about having to work in at least 2 different quarters but im not 100% sure on that part
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Harper Thompson
You should definitely apply! The worst they can do is say no, but based on what you've described with having a 2-year work history before your recent job, you almost certainly qualify. When you file your claim, you'll need to provide information about all employers from the last 18 months. NYS Department of Labor will verify your wages with each employer to determine your benefit amount.
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Caleb Stark
•This is exactly what happened to me - I was worried about not working long enough at my last job but it turned out my previous employment history covered me. The application process asks for all your recent employers anyway.
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Jade O'Malley
The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefit calculator that can help you figure out if you qualify and estimate your weekly benefit amount. But honestly, their phone system is so backed up it's nearly impossible to get through to an actual person if you have questions. I tried calling for weeks about my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real NYS Department of Labor agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Logan Greenburg
•Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check out that calculator first and if I need to talk to someone I'll look into that service.
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Hunter Edmunds
Don't stress too much about it. The system is designed to help people who've been working and paying into unemployment insurance. With your work history, you should be fine. Just make sure you file as soon as possible because there's usually a waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim.
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Yara Abboud
Just to add some clarity on what Charlotte mentioned - yes, you definitely need to list both employers when you apply. The NYS DOL will actually send wage verification forms to all your employers from the base period to confirm your earnings. Also, Lucas is right about the quarters requirement - you need to have worked in at least 2 different calendar quarters during your base period, which you clearly have with your employment history. The good news is that even if you don't qualify under the regular base period, NYS has an "alternate base period" that uses more recent quarters, so your 4 months at the recent job would definitely count there. I'd recommend applying online through the NY.gov website rather than trying to call - the online system is much faster and you can track your claim status easily.
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