NYS Department of Labor unemployment with nursing license suspended - am I eligible?
My RN license got suspended last month due to some administrative issues (not criminal, just paperwork problems with continuing education credits). I've been working at a hospital for 3 years but obviously can't work now until I get this sorted out. Can I still file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor while my nursing license is suspended? I'm worried they'll say I'm not able and available for work since I can't practice nursing right now. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Carmen Vega
You can still file for unemployment even with a suspended professional license. The key is demonstrating you're actively working to resolve the suspension and are available for other work in the meantime. NYS Department of Labor will look at whether you're able and available for suitable work, not just your previous job. Make sure to document all steps you're taking to reinstate your license and any other job search activities.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thank you! Should I mention the license suspension when I file my weekly claims or just focus on my job search efforts?
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Andre Rousseau
omg this is exactly what happened to my sister!! she's a dental hygienist and her license got suspended for some stupid continuing ed thing she missed. she got unemployment no problem, just had to show she was looking for work and trying to fix the license issue
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Yuki Kobayashi
•That's so reassuring to hear! How long did it take for her unemployment to get approved?
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Andre Rousseau
•i think like 2-3 weeks? she had to do a phone interview but it went fine
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Zoe Stavros
Be very careful about how you answer the able and available questions on your weekly claims. You need to be truthful about your license status but also show you're genuinely seeking work. Consider looking for positions that don't require an active nursing license - administrative roles in healthcare, medical assistant positions, etc. This demonstrates you're serious about finding work while resolving your license issue.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Good point about looking for other healthcare roles. I actually have experience in medical administration from before I became a nurse.
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Jamal Harris
Wait, I'm confused - if your license is suspended can you even legally work in healthcare at all? I thought any healthcare job would require some kind of license verification...
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Carmen Vega
•Not all healthcare positions require an active nursing license. Administrative roles, patient coordination, medical billing, and many other healthcare support positions don't require nursing licensure.
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GalaxyGlider
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my eligibility during a professional licensing issue. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (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. Really helped me get answers about my specific situation without waiting on hold forever.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've been dreading trying to call them but sounds like this might make it easier.
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Mei Wong
The unemployment system is so frustrating with professional licenses! I'm a teacher and went through something similar with a certification issue. Just keep detailed records of everything you're doing to fix the license problem and all your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor wants to see you're making genuine efforts.
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