NYS Department of Labor youth unemployment - what is it and how does it affect my claim?
I'm 19 and this is my first time filing for unemployment after losing my part-time job at a retail store. I keep seeing references to 'youth unemployment' in some of the NYS Department of Labor materials but I'm not really sure what that means or if it affects my claim in any way. Does being young change how my weekly claims get processed or the job search requirements? I've been filing my weekly claims for 2 weeks now and everything seems normal but I want to make sure I'm not missing something important about youth unemployment rules.
9 comments
Join the conversation
StarStrider
Youth unemployment is just a statistical category that NYS Department of Labor uses to track unemployment rates among people aged 16-24. It doesn't actually change how your claim gets processed or what benefits you're eligible for. Your weekly claims and job search requirements are the same as any other claimant. The main thing that might be different for younger workers is that you might have less work history, which could affect your benefit amount calculation.
0 coins
Ethan Clark
•Oh that makes sense! I was worried there were special rules I didn't know about. My benefit amount is pretty low but I guess that's because I only worked part-time for like 8 months.
0 coins
Yuki Sato
yeah i was confused about this too when i first filed, thought there might be different job search requirements for young people but nope its all the same
0 coins
Carmen Ruiz
The 'youth unemployment' term you're seeing is probably from economic reports or news articles about unemployment statistics. NYS Department of Labor tracks different age groups to understand employment trends, but it doesn't create separate claim processes. You still need to complete your weekly claims, maintain your job search log with at least 3 contacts per week, and be ready and available for work. If you're having trouble reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor with questions about your specific claim, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works.
0 coins
Ethan Clark
•Thanks for the info! I'll check out that service if I run into any issues. Good to know the job search requirements are the same - I've been doing 3 contacts per week like the website says.
0 coins
Andre Lefebvre
Wait I'm 20 and my friend told me there were special programs for young unemployed people through NYS Department of Labor? Like job training stuff? Or is that something different?
0 coins
StarStrider
•That's probably referring to workforce development programs like WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) which can provide training opportunities for younger workers. Those are separate from regular unemployment benefits though - you can be on UI and still participate in training programs.
0 coins
Andre Lefebvre
•Ohh ok that makes more sense. I'll look into those training programs too, thanks!
0 coins
Zoe Alexopoulos
The whole system is confusing honestly, especially when you're young and dealing with it for the first time. I remember being stressed about every little detail when I filed at 22.
0 coins