What are the 3 requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits in New York?
I'm trying to figure out if I'm eligible for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor and keep seeing references to '3 main requirements' but different websites seem to list different things. Can someone break down what the actual 3 core requirements are to qualify for UI benefits in New York? I got laid off last week from my retail job and want to make sure I meet all the criteria before I file my claim.
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AstroExplorer
The three main requirements for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits are: 1) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own (like layoffs, not quitting without good cause), 2) You must have earned enough wages during your base period to establish a claim, and 3) You must be able and available to work and actively seeking employment. There are some additional requirements but these are the big three that determine initial eligibility.
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Amara Nwosu
•Thanks! For the wage requirement, do you know what the minimum amount is? I worked for about 8 months before getting laid off.
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Giovanni Moretti
Just to add to what was said above - the wage requirement is pretty specific. You need to have earned at least $3,300 in your base period AND you need to have earned at least $2,200 in one quarter of your base period. Your base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. If you worked 8 months in retail you should be fine on the wage requirement.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•wait so if I only worked part time for 6 months I might not qualify? my wages were pretty low
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Dmitry Popov
•@Fatima Al-Farsi It depends on your specific wages, but part-time work for 6 months might still qualify you if you earned enough. The key numbers are $3,300 total in your base period AND $2,200 in at least one quarter. Even with part-time wages, if you were making around $550-600 per month consistently, you could meet the threshold. You can use the NYS DOL benefit calculator on their website to check your specific situation, or call them to verify your wage credits.
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Dylan Cooper
The job search requirement is the one that trips people up. You have to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor can ask to see your job search record at any time during your claim. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week unless you're on standby waiting to be recalled to your job.
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Amara Nwosu
•Good to know about the job search log. Is there a specific format I need to use or can I just keep notes?
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Sofia Perez
I had such a hard time reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my eligibility. Kept getting disconnected or put on hold forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works - https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Did that actually work? I've been trying to call for weeks about my claim
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Sofia Perez
•Yeah it worked for me. Got connected within like 20 minutes instead of calling all day and getting nowhere.
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ElectricDreamer
Just make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after losing your job! There's no waiting period in New York but you can't get benefits for any week before you actually file your initial claim. And you have to file weekly claims to continue getting payments even after you're approved.
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