What are the work search requirements for unemployment in NY?
I'm about to start my third week of unemployment and I'm getting confused about the work search requirements. I know I need to be actively looking for work but I'm not sure what exactly counts and how many activities I need to do each week. My cousin said it's 3 job contacts per week but someone else told me it's different now. I've been applying to jobs on Indeed but I'm not sure if that's enough or if I need to be doing other things too. Can someone explain what NYS Department of Labor actually requires for the work search activities?
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Keisha Robinson
For regular unemployment benefits in NY, you need to complete at least 3 work search activities each week. These can include applying for jobs, attending job interviews, networking events, or meeting with career counselors. The key is documenting everything - dates, company names, method of contact. You'll need to keep this record for your own files in case NYS Department of Labor asks for it during an audit.
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Yara Haddad
•Thanks! Do I need to submit this documentation with my weekly claim or just keep it for myself?
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Paolo Conti
Just keep the records yourself - you don't submit them with your weekly certification unless specifically requested. Make sure you're applying for jobs that match your skills and pay rate. NYS Department of Labor can disqualify you if they think you're not making a genuine effort or turning down suitable work.
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Amina Sow
•What counts as 'suitable work' though? I used to make $25/hour and most jobs I'm seeing are $15-18/hour
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GalaxyGazer
i've been doing this for months now and honestly the 3 activities thing is pretty easy to meet. online applications count, so does going to job fairs or even just networking on linkedin if you document it properly
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Oliver Wagner
I had issues reaching NYS Department of Labor to clarify some of these work search rules last month. Kept getting busy signals and their online chat never worked. Finally tried this 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 showing how it works. Really helped me understand the specific requirements for my situation.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Was that expensive? I've been trying to call for weeks about my work search log questions
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Keisha Robinson
Regarding suitable work - generally after the first few weeks you're expected to consider jobs paying at least 80% of your previous wage. But there are exceptions based on your field and local job market. The work search requirement is about showing you're actively seeking employment, not just going through the motions.
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Leila Haddad
Just wanted to add that the NYS Department of Labor website has a work search log template you can download to help track your activities. I print it out each week and fill it in as I go - makes it way easier than trying to remember everything later. Also, don't forget that attending job training programs or workshops can count toward your 3 activities too. I've been doing online skills courses through the library and those qualify as long as they're related to improving your job prospects.
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Amara Adeyemi
•This is really helpful! I didn't know about the downloadable work search log template on the DOL website. I've been trying to keep track of everything in a notebook but having an official template sounds much more organized. Do you know if there's a specific section on their website where I can find it? Also, that's great to know about the online skills courses - I was wondering if those would count since I've been doing some free coding tutorials.
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Keisha Taylor
I've been on unemployment for about 6 months now and wanted to share what I've learned about the work search requirements. The 3 activities per week is correct, but make sure you're being strategic about it. I keep a detailed spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, dates, and method of contact. One thing that really helped me was mixing different types of activities - I do 2 job applications and 1 networking activity each week (like reaching out to former colleagues or attending virtual industry meetups). Also, if you're having trouble finding enough suitable positions to apply for, consider expanding your search slightly outside your immediate area or looking into remote opportunities. The key is showing genuine effort to find work while being realistic about your qualifications and the current job market.
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Zadie Patel
•This is really solid advice! I'm just starting week 3 and your spreadsheet idea sounds way better than my current messy notes. Quick question - when you say "networking activities," do things like connecting with people on LinkedIn or joining professional Facebook groups count? I'm in marketing and there are some good remote groups I could be more active in. Also, did you ever run into issues with the "suitable work" requirements when expanding your search area? I'm worried about applying too far outside my usual commute range and then having to explain why I couldn't accept a job if offered.
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