What are the requirements to receive unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I'm planning to file for unemployment soon and want to make sure I understand all the requirements to receive benefits from NYS Department of Labor. I've been working full-time for the past 2 years at a restaurant but my hours got cut to almost nothing. What do I need to qualify? Do I have to be completely unemployed or can I still work part-time? Also heard something about job search requirements - what exactly do I need to do each week? Any help would be appreciated since I've never filed before.
15 comments
Join the conversation
Omar Zaki
The basic requirements for NYS unemployment benefits are: 1) You must have earned enough wages in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters), 2) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 3) You must be able and available to work, and 4) You must actively search for work. You can work part-time and still collect partial benefits as long as you report all earnings on your weekly claim. The job search requirement is 3 work search activities per week, which can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, or networking events.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•Thanks! When you say 'enough wages' what's the minimum amount? And do the 3 job search activities have to be different employers or can I apply to the same place multiple times?
0 coins
CosmicCrusader
Also make sure you understand the weekly claim process. You have to file every week even if you worked some hours. NYS Department of Labor will calculate your partial benefit based on what you earned. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits permanently. The job search log is super important too - keep detailed records because they do audit them.
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
•This is so true about keeping records! I got audited last year and had to provide proof of every job search activity for 6 months. Luckily I saved everything.
0 coins
Diego Flores
ugh the job search requirements are so annoying especially when theres barely any jobs in your field. i tried applying to the same restaurant chain 3 times in one week and they told me it only counts as one activity. apparently you need 3 DIFFERENT activities each week
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•That's correct - they need to be distinct activities. You can apply to different locations of the same company though, as long as they have separate job postings or application processes.
0 coins
Anastasia Kozlov
I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor when my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks. Calling their main number was impossible - always busy or would hang up after being on hold forever. Finally found a 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. Was able to resolve my adjudication issue within a few days instead of waiting weeks.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•Interesting, never heard of that service. How much does it cost? I'm worried about spending money when I'm already tight on funds.
0 coins
Anastasia Kozlov
•It was worth it for me since I was losing benefits every week my claim was stuck. Much better than the stress of calling hundreds of times and never getting through to anyone who could actually help.
0 coins
Sean Flanagan
Just remember you also can't turn down suitable work once you start collecting. NYS Department of Labor considers factors like your previous wage, commute distance, and skills when determining if a job offer is suitable. And if you quit or get fired for misconduct, you won't qualify.
0 coins
Freya Andersen
•Good point about suitable work. Since I'm in food service, would I have to take any restaurant job even if it pays way less than what I was making before?
0 coins
Malik Johnson
•@cc48bca1aca9 Generally they consider a job "suitable" if it pays at least 80% of your previous wage after the first few weeks of benefits, but this can vary. In food service, they'd also look at whether it matches your experience level - so if you were a server, they probably couldn't force you to take a dishwasher position right away. The standards do get less strict the longer you're on benefits though.
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
One more thing - make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after your hours get reduced. You can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file, so don't wait thinking you might get more hours back.
0 coins
Connor O'Reilly
@cc48bca1aca9 For the wage requirement, you generally need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period (first 4 of last 5 quarters) with earnings in at least 2 quarters. Since you worked full-time for 2 years, you should easily meet this. Also, when filing your weekly claims, be very precise about reporting your reduced hours and earnings - even small mistakes can delay your payments. The online system lets you file claims Sunday night through Friday, and I'd recommend doing it the same day each week to stay consistent.
0 coins
Elijah Brown
•@3ad2327a0759 That's really helpful about the $2,600 minimum - I was worried I might not qualify but I definitely earned way more than that over the past 2 years. Quick question about reporting earnings - when I do work my reduced hours, do I report my gross pay or net pay after taxes? And does it matter if I get tips that aren't tracked by my employer?
0 coins