What is seasonal unemployment and how does it affect NYS Department of Labor benefits?

Seasonal unemployment is when workers are regularly laid off during certain times of the year due to the nature of their industry. In New York, you can absolutely collect unemployment benefits as a seasonal worker! The key is that your employer needs to report your layoff as seasonal to NYS Department of Labor. Industries like landscaping, construction, tourism, and agriculture commonly have seasonal layoffs. You'll need to file your claim as soon as you're laid off and meet the same eligibility requirements as any other claimant.

i worked seasonal at a ski resort and got unemployment every spring when the season ended. your boss should know how to handle the paperwork since landscaping companies deal with this every year

The filing process is the same, but there are a couple important things to know about seasonal unemployment in NY. First, you still need to meet the job search requirements during your benefit period unless you have a definite return-to-work date with your employer. Second, if your employer has indicated you'll be recalled for the next season, that affects how you answer certain questions on your weekly claims. Make sure to report accurately about your availability for other work.

I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor last year when I had questions about my seasonal claim status. Kept getting busy signals and then they'd hang up after being on hold forever. Finally found claimyr.com which helped me get through to an actual agent who explained everything about seasonal benefits. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than trying to navigate their phone system alone.

The NYS Department of Labor system is SO confusing for seasonal workers. I got laid off from my construction job last December and it took them 6 weeks to process my claim because they kept asking for more documentation about my seasonal status. Meanwhile I'm trying to pay rent with no income! They really need to streamline this process for industries that have predictable seasonal layoffs every single year.

just remember to file your weekly claims even if your claim is still processing. you can get backpay for those weeks once everything gets approved

Make sure your employer files the correct paperwork with NYS Department of Labor indicating it's a seasonal layoff - this can really speed up the process. When I worked for a tree service company, my boss would file what they called a "mass layoff notice" every fall for all the seasonal workers. It helped our claims get processed much faster than individual layoffs. You might want to ask your landscaping company if they do bulk seasonal filings. Also keep all your pay stubs from this season as proof of your work history, just in case they ask for documentation later.