What are the requirements for unemployment benefits in NY - NYS Department of Labor eligibility?

The main requirements for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits are: 1) You must have worked and earned wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters), 2) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 3) You must be physically able to work and available for work, 4) You must actively search for work each week, and 5) You need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period with at least $1,300 in your highest quarter. The wage requirements can change yearly so check the current amounts on the NYS Department of Labor website.

Yes, layoffs due to downsizing, lack of work, or company closure generally qualify you for benefits. You typically won't qualify if you were fired for misconduct or if you quit without good cause. The NYS Department of Labor will review your separation reason when you file your claim.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records. The NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search activities at any time. I learned this the hard way when they asked for my job search log and I hadn't been keeping good records.

I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly their phone system is a nightmare. If you need to talk to someone about your eligibility or have questions about your claim, try using claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Also remember you need to register with the NYS Department of Labor career center and potentially participate in reemployment services if selected. They might require you to attend workshops or meetings as part of maintaining your benefits.

One thing that's not mentioned yet - if you have gaps in employment like you mentioned, make sure those gaps don't affect your base period calculations. The NYS Department of Labor looks at specific quarters for wage calculations, so even if you had some unemployment periods, you might still qualify if you earned enough in the qualifying quarters. Also, if you don't meet the regular base period requirements, they can sometimes use an alternate base period (the last 4 completed quarters) which might work better for your situation. It's worth applying even if you're unsure - they'll calculate everything for you and let you know if you qualify.