NYS Department of Labor unemployment how many jobs per week - confused about weekly requirements
I'm really confused about the job search requirements for my weekly unemployment claims with NYS Department of Labor. How many jobs per week am I supposed to be applying to? I've been filing my weekly claims but I'm not sure if I'm meeting the minimum. Some people say 3 jobs, others say it depends on your situation. I don't want to mess up my benefits because I'm not applying to enough jobs each week. Can someone clarify what the actual requirement is?
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GalaxyGlider
The NYS Department of Labor requires you to conduct at least 3 work search activities per week to maintain your unemployment benefits. These can include job applications, networking events, career fairs, or interviews. You need to keep a detailed log of each activity including company name, contact information, date, and method of contact. This information must be available if NYS Department of Labor requests it during an audit.
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Jamal Harris
•Thank you! So it's 3 activities, not necessarily 3 applications? That makes more sense.
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Mei Wong
wait i thought it was more than 3? ive been applying to like 10 jobs a week because i was scared
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Liam Sullivan
•You're doing great by applying to 10! The minimum is 3 work search activities, but applying to more jobs obviously increases your chances of finding employment. NYS Department of Labor wants to see you're making a genuine effort to return to work.
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Amara Okafor
I've been having trouble reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor to verify my job search log. Every time I call I either get disconnected or put on hold for hours. Has anyone found a better way to get through to them? I'm worried my claim might get flagged for review and I won't be able to provide the documentation they need.
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Giovanni Colombo
•I had the same problem for weeks trying to reach NYS Department of Labor about my job search requirements. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to unemployment agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It actually got me connected to a real person who explained exactly what I needed to document for my weekly claims.
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Amara Okafor
•Interesting, I'll check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get clarification on my requirements.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Don't stress too much about the exact number. I've been on unemployment twice and as long as you're genuinely looking for work and can show you're trying, NYS Department of Labor is usually reasonable. Just keep good records of what you're doing.
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StarStrider
The whole system is ridiculous anyway. Three jobs a week when there's barely any decent positions posted? NYS Department of Labor expects us to apply to anything just to meet their quota, even if it's not a good fit. It's just bureaucratic nonsense that doesn't actually help anyone find meaningful employment.
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GalaxyGlider
•I understand the frustration, but the work search requirement is designed to encourage active job seeking. You can include networking activities, attending job fairs, or even taking online courses that improve your employability. It doesn't have to be just applications to random jobs.
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Aisha Mahmood
Just to add some clarity - the 3 work search activities per week is the standard requirement, but it's worth noting that NYS Department of Labor may have different requirements based on your benefit year or if you're in certain programs. I'd recommend checking your most recent determination letter or logging into your NY.gov account to see your specific requirements. Also, remember that "work search activities" is broader than just applications - it includes things like job interviews, career counseling, job fairs, and even creating/updating professional profiles on sites like LinkedIn. The key is documenting everything with dates, contact info, and what type of activity it was.
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