What does unemployment benefits mean in NYS - confused about the whole process
I keep hearing people talk about unemployment benefits but honestly I have no idea what that actually means. Like I know its money from the government but how does it work? Do you just apply and get money? Is there paperwork? My job just cut my hours way down and someone said I might qualify but I dont even know where to start or what unemployment benefits actually are. Can someone explain this to me like im 5 years old?
9 comments
Join the conversation
Ben Cooper
Unemployment benefits are temporary financial assistance from the NYS Department of Labor when you lose your job through no fault of your own. It's insurance you and your employer paid into while you were working. You file a claim, and if approved, you receive weekly payments while you search for new work. In New York, you apply through the my.ny.gov website and must meet certain requirements like being able and available to work.
0 coins
Khalid Howes
•Oh so its not free money, its like insurance I already paid for? That makes more sense. Do I qualify if my hours got cut but I still have the job?
0 coins
Naila Gordon
You might qualify for partial unemployment if your hours were reduced significantly. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings - if you're making less than your weekly benefit amount, you could get partial benefits. You'll need to file a claim and report your reduced earnings each week. Keep track of all your work hours and pay stubs.
0 coins
Khalid Howes
•Thanks! I'll start gathering my pay stubs. Do I apply online or do I have to go somewhere in person?
0 coins
Naila Gordon
•Everything is online now through my.ny.gov. You'll create an account and file your initial claim there. Then you file weekly claims to certify you're still eligible and report any work or earnings.
0 coins
Cynthia Love
ugh the whole system is so confusing at first!! i was totally lost when i applied last year. basically unemployment benefits replace part of your lost wages while you look for work. in ny its about half your previous weekly pay up to a maximum amount. you have to actively search for jobs and report it to keep getting benefits.
0 coins
Darren Brooks
I've been trying to reach the NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my benefits getting stopped and their phone system is impossible. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a human being there? I need to understand why my payments stopped but can't get through to anyone.
0 coins
Rosie Harper
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr - it's a service that calls the NYS Department of Labor for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.
0 coins
Elliott luviBorBatman
Just want to add that unemployment benefits in NY also come with job search requirements. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your search activities. The NYS Department of Labor can ask to see this log at any time. Benefits aren't just free money - there are responsibilities that come with them.
0 coins