What are the rules of unemployment benefits in NY - confused about NYS Department of Labor requirements

The basic eligibility rules for NY unemployment are: you need to have worked and earned wages in covered employment, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own (like layoff or company closure), you must be physically able to work and available for work, and you must be actively seeking employment. For the monetary requirements, you need sufficient wages in your base period - typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. You also need to register for work with NYS Department of Labor and maintain a job search log.

Yes, you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records in your job search log. This includes applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, or networking activities. You also need to be registered with the NYS Career Center. Make sure you're filing your weekly claims every week even if you haven't received your first payment yet - missing a week can cause delays.

Don't forget about the waiting week! You won't get paid for your first week even if you're eligible. Also, your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period, usually around 1/26th of that amount. Maximum weekly benefit is $504 in 2025. And you can work part-time while collecting as long as you report all earnings and work less than 4 days.

The whole system is so confusing and they make it deliberately hard to navigate. I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim that's stuck in adjudication and can never reach a human. The phone system is a nightmare and they never respond to messages through the website.

yeah the rules are pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. just file your weekly claims on time and keep looking for work. been on unemployment twice and never had major issues

This is all making me nervous... what happens if I make a mistake on my weekly claim? Like if I accidentally put the wrong date or something? Will they deny my whole claim??

Just wanted to add that you should file your initial claim as soon as possible after losing your job - there's no waiting period to file, and you want to get the process started right away. Also, make sure you have all your employment information ready (dates of employment, employer addresses, reason for separation) because you'll need that for your application. The online system at labor.ny.gov is usually the fastest way to file. One more tip - set up direct deposit when you file because paper checks can add extra delays to getting your benefits.