NYS Department of Labor services during government shutdown - will unemployment be affected?

NYS Department of Labor unemployment services typically continue during federal shutdowns because they're state-funded programs, not federal. Your weekly claims should process normally and payments shouldn't be interrupted. The my.ny.gov system stays operational since it's maintained by the state.

yeah i went through this in 2018 and nothing changed with my unemployment, kept getting paid on schedule

The confusion comes from people mixing up federal programs with state UI programs. Regular unemployment insurance is administered by states using state funds and federal grants that are already allocated. Even if federal employees can't work, your NYS Department of Labor claim processing continues. However, if you're trying to reach federal agencies for employment verification or similar issues, those contacts might be delayed.

I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about an adjudication issue and the phone lines are always jammed. If you need to actually talk to someone, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an agent. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if the shutdown makes their phone lines even busier.

The real problem is that government shutdowns create uncertainty and people start panicking about everything financial. Your UI benefits are safe but it's smart to have backup plans for essential expenses just in case there are any technical glitches or delays.

Just wanted to add that even though state unemployment continues during federal shutdowns, it's still a good idea to file your weekly claims as early as possible during these periods. Sometimes the increased anxiety leads to more people calling and using the system, which can cause temporary slowdowns. I always submit mine on Sunday morning when traffic is lighter just to be safe.

This is really helpful information everyone! I was also worried about this with the recent shutdown talks. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have screenshots or records of your recent claim certifications and payment history, just in case there are any technical issues during uncertain times. The NYS DOL website has a section where you can view your payment history - it's good to document this stuff regularly anyway for your own records.

Adding to this conversation as someone who's been through multiple government shutdown scares - it's worth noting that while your regular UI benefits are protected, some related services might experience delays. For example, if you need to appeal a determination or request a hearing, those processes might slow down if they involve coordination with federal agencies. Also, if you're receiving any federally-funded extended benefits (like PEUC when it was active), those could potentially be affected differently than regular state UI. But for basic weekly claims and standard unemployment insurance, you should be completely fine to continue certifying and receiving payments as normal.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who just started receiving UI benefits, I was definitely in panic mode about potential shutdowns. The distinction between state and federal programs makes so much sense now. I'm going to take everyone's advice about filing early on Sunday mornings and keeping documentation of my claims. One question though - if there ever were technical issues with the my.ny.gov system during a shutdown period (even though it's state-run), is there a backup way to certify for benefits? Or would we just have to wait for the system to come back online?