NYS Department of Labor unemployment - what is it exactly and how does it work?
I keep hearing people talk about unemployment benefits but I honestly don't really understand what it is or how it works. My friend mentioned something about NYS Department of Labor and filing claims but I'm completely lost. Can someone explain this to me like I'm five? What exactly is unemployment and when would someone need it? I've been working the same job for years so I never had to think about this stuff before but want to understand it better just in case.
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Isabella Costa
Unemployment insurance (UI) is basically a safety net program run by NYS Department of Labor that provides temporary financial assistance when you lose your job through no fault of your own. You pay into it through payroll taxes while working, then can collect benefits if you become unemployed. The key is that you have to be laid off, not fired for cause or quit voluntarily. You file weekly claims online and have to actively search for work while collecting.
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NeonNebula
•Oh okay that makes sense! So it's like insurance I'm already paying for? How much do you typically get and for how long?
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Ravi Malhotra
In New York, you can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits, and the amount depends on your previous earnings. The NYS Department of Labor calculates it based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. Maximum weekly benefit is around $504 in 2025. You have to file your initial claim online through the my.ny.gov portal, then file weekly claims to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work.
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Freya Christensen
•just a heads up the my.ny.gov site can be really glitchy sometimes, especially on sundays when everyone tries to file their weekly claims at once
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Omar Farouk
One thing that trips people up is the job search requirement. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a record of your search activities. You don't have to submit it weekly but they can ask for it at any time. Also, you have to be 'able and available' for work - so if you're sick or go on vacation, you can't claim benefits for those weeks.
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NeonNebula
•What counts as a job contact? Is applying online enough or do you have to do something else?
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Omar Farouk
•Online applications count! Also networking events, contacting employers directly, working with employment agencies. NYS Department of Labor has a list of approved activities on their website.
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Chloe Davis
i went through this whole process last year when my company downsized. honestly the hardest part was just getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions. their phone lines are always busy and the wait times are ridiculous. ended up using this service called claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. was way easier than sitting on hold for hours
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AstroAlpha
•Never heard of that service before but might be worth checking out. I had to call NYS Department of Labor like 15 times before I finally got through to someone about my adjudication issue.
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Diego Chavez
Just to add - there are different types of unemployment situations. Regular UI is what most people think of, but there's also partial unemployment if your hours get cut, and standby status for temporary layoffs where you expect to return to the same job. Each has slightly different rules but all go through NYS Department of Labor.
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NeonNebula
•This is all really helpful info, thank you everyone! Hopefully I won't need to use it but at least now I understand how it works.
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