NYS Department of Labor unemployment eligibility questions - confused about requirements
I'm really confused about whether I qualify for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I was laid off from my retail job in December after working there for 8 months, but before that I had a part-time job for only 3 months. I'm not sure if I have enough work history to qualify. Also, I'm available to work but I can only work certain hours because I have to take care of my elderly parent in the mornings. Does this affect my eligibility? I tried reading through the NYS Department of Labor website but it's so confusing with all the technical language. Can someone explain the basic requirements in simple terms?
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Simon White
For NYS Department of Labor unemployment eligibility, you need to meet both monetary and non-monetary requirements. Monetary means you need sufficient wages in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). With 11 months of work total, you might qualify depending on your earnings. Non-monetary requirements include being able and available for work. Having caregiving responsibilities can be tricky - you need to be available for suitable work during normal business hours in your field.
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Geoff Richards
•Thank you! Do you know what the minimum earnings requirement is? I was making about $15/hour at the retail job but only $12/hour at the part-time position before that.
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Hugo Kass
i think you need like $2000 or something in earnings but dont quote me on that. the caregiving thing might be an issue though, they're pretty strict about being available for work
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Nasira Ibanez
•It's actually more complex than a flat $2000. You need at least $2,600 in wages in your highest quarter AND total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages. For the availability issue, you can specify your availability restrictions when filing, but it may limit job referrals.
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Khalil Urso
The whole system is designed to trip people up! I had similar questions when I applied and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who could review my specific situation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Way easier than trying to navigate the phone maze yourself.
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Geoff Richards
•That sounds helpful! Did they charge a lot for that service?
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Khalil Urso
•It was worth it to get real answers instead of guessing. Much better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.
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Myles Regis
UGH the NYS Department of Labor eligibility rules are SO confusing and they make it impossible to get straight answers! I swear they do it on purpose to discourage people from applying. You shouldn't have to be a lawyer to figure out if you qualify for benefits you paid into!
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Brian Downey
•I feel you on this. The website is terrible and the phone system is even worse.
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Jacinda Yu
Just apply anyway and let them determine eligibility. Worst case they say no, but at least you'll know for sure. The online application walks you through most of the questions.
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