NYS Department of Labor unemployment compensation eligibility - who gets approved?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment compensation in NY and honestly the NYS Department of Labor website is confusing me. I got laid off from my retail job last month after working there for 8 months. My manager said something about me being eligible but I'm not sure what the actual requirements are. Do you have to work a certain amount of time? What about if you were part-time? I made about $18,000 last year between two different jobs. Can someone break down who actually gets unemployment compensation approved by NYS Department of Labor?
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GalaxyGazer
For NYS Department of Labor unemployment compensation, you need to meet the base period earnings requirement. You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period and your total earnings need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. With $18k from two jobs, you should meet the monetary requirements. You also need to be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs qualify), be able and available for work, and actively seek employment.
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Nia Harris
•Thanks! What counts as the base period though? And do both my jobs count toward the earnings requirement?
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Mateo Sanchez
Your base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-December 2024. All W-2 wages from any employer count toward your earnings, so yes both jobs matter. You'll also need to register for work search and file weekly claims to keep getting benefits.
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Aisha Mahmood
•this is why i hate dealing with government stuff, why cant they just say you worked you get money lol
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Ethan Moore
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to check if my claim meets all these requirements but their phone lines are impossible. Every time I call I either get a busy signal or get disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
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Yuki Kobayashi
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. I finally got my eligibility questions answered after trying for months on my own.
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Ethan Moore
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about my claim status.
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Carmen Vega
Just to add - being part-time doesn't disqualify you as long as you meet the earnings requirements. I worked part-time at a restaurant and still qualified for unemployment compensation when they cut my hours to zero. The key is having enough wage credits in your base period and being unemployed through no fault of your own.
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Nia Harris
•That's reassuring! I was worried the part-time thing would hurt my chances. Did you have any issues with the job search requirements while collecting?
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QuantumQuester
The NYS Department of Labor system is so broken. I know people who clearly don't qualify getting benefits while others who lost their jobs through layoffs get denied for random technicalities. The whole eligibility process seems arbitrary sometimes.
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GalaxyGazer
•While the system has issues, eligibility is actually based on specific criteria. Most denials happen because people don't understand the base period requirements or they quit rather than being laid off. If you're denied, you can always appeal the decision.
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Yara Nassar
Based on what you've shared, you should definitely qualify for NYS Department of Labor unemployment compensation. With $18,000 in earnings from two jobs and being laid off (not fired for misconduct), you meet the basic requirements. The key things to remember: file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period, keep detailed records of your job search activities, and don't get discouraged if the online system seems confusing - it's notoriously user-unfriendly. You can also visit a local career center if you need help with the application process. Good luck!
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