What is REA unemployment program through NYS Department of Labor?
I keep seeing references to something called REA in my unemployment paperwork but I have no idea what this means. My claim got approved last month and now I'm getting notices about REA requirements. Is this some kind of job search thing? Do I have to attend meetings or workshops? I'm really confused about what REA unemployment involves and whether ignoring it will mess up my benefits. Can someone explain what this program is and if it's mandatory?
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Aidan Hudson
REA stands for Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment. It's a program where NYS Department of Labor randomly selects certain unemployment claimants to participate in additional job search activities. You'll typically get called in for an in-person or virtual appointment where they review your work search efforts, help update your resume, and connect you with job placement services. It's mandatory if you're selected - skipping it can result in your benefits being stopped.
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Lucy Lam
•Thank you! Do they give you advance notice for these appointments or do you just get a letter saying show up tomorrow?
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Zoe Wang
I went through REA last year and honestly it was helpful. They made me redo my resume and showed me job sites I hadn't heard of. The appointment lasted about 90 minutes and they scheduled follow-up check-ins every few weeks. Just make sure you bring documentation of all your job search activities because they'll want to see proof you've been actively looking for work.
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Connor Richards
•What kind of documentation did they want? I've been applying online but don't really keep records of everything.
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Zoe Wang
•They wanted company names, dates I applied, contact info, and method of application. I started keeping a spreadsheet after that first meeting because they check it every time.
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Grace Durand
I got selected for REA too and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to reschedule my appointment when I had a job interview conflict. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person who could move my appointment. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me from potentially losing my benefits over a scheduling issue.
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Steven Adams
•Never heard of that service but the phone system is definitely impossible. Did they charge you to make the call?
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Grace Durand
•It was worth it to avoid the endless busy signals and getting hung up on. Much easier than trying to call myself.
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Alice Fleming
REA is basically the government's way of making sure you're not just collecting benefits without looking for work. They'll quiz you about your job search and make you jump through more hoops. Some people think it's helpful but honestly it felt like busywork to me.
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Hassan Khoury
Wait, is REA the same thing as the WorkForce1 requirements? I'm getting so many different letters and appointments I can't keep track of what's what anymore.
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Aidan Hudson
•No, WorkForce1 and REA are separate programs. WorkForce1 is about career center services, REA is specifically the assessment program for unemployment claimants. You might end up participating in both.
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Liam McConnell
I just got my REA notice yesterday and was panicking about what to expect. This thread is super helpful! @Lucy, to answer your question about advance notice - I got about 10 days notice for my appointment, so it wasn't last minute. They sent both a physical letter and an email. The letter had pretty clear instructions about what to bring (work search log, resume, etc.). Sounds like it's actually worth taking seriously based on what everyone's saying here.
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