What does unemployment mean for NYS Department of Labor benefits - confused about eligibility
I'm really confused about what unemployment actually means when it comes to NYS Department of Labor benefits. My job ended last month and I keep hearing different things from people about what qualifies you for UI. Some people say you have to be completely out of work, others say you can work part time and still get benefits. I tried looking on the my.ny.gov website but it's really confusing with all the legal language. Can someone explain in simple terms what unemployment means for getting benefits? Do I qualify if I'm working a few hours a week at a temp job while looking for full time work?
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GalaxyGazer
Unemployment for NYS Department of Labor purposes means you're out of work through no fault of your own and you're actively seeking new employment. You can work part-time (under 30 hours) and still receive partial benefits, but your weekly benefit amount gets reduced based on what you earn. The key requirements are that you lost your main job involuntarily, you're able and available to work, and you're conducting an active job search.
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Amina Sow
•That helps! So if I'm working 15 hours a week at this temp job, I can still file weekly claims? Do I need to report those earnings every week?
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Oliver Wagner
You definitely need to report ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's just a few dollars. NYS Department of Labor will calculate your partial benefit based on their formula. I learned this the hard way when I didn't report some cash work and got hit with an overpayment notice months later.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•This is so important! I see people get in trouble all the time for not reporting part-time work.
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Javier Mendoza
The NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through when you have questions like this. I spent weeks trying to reach someone to clarify my situation. Finally found claimyr.com which actually got me connected to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to understand my eligibility.
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Amina Sow
•Really? I've been trying to call for days with no luck. How much does that service cost?
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Javier Mendoza
•It's worth it just to get actual answers instead of guessing. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Emma Thompson
unemployment basically means your not working full time anymore and looking for work, thats it. if you lost your job you probably qualify unless you got fired for something really bad
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Malik Davis
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS SET UP TO CONFUSE PEOPLE! They make the language so complicated on purpose so people give up and don't claim benefits they're entitled to. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for years and they change the rules constantly. Don't let them intimidate you - if you lost your job file a claim and let THEM figure out if you qualify or not!
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Isabella Santos
•I feel this so much. The my.ny.gov website is like reading a foreign language sometimes.
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