What is unemployment insurance benefits - NYS Department of Labor basic questions?
Hi everyone, I'm really confused about this whole unemployment insurance benefits thing. I just lost my job at a retail store after 2 years and my friend said I should apply for UI but I honestly don't even know what that means or how it works. Like what exactly is unemployment insurance benefits? Do I qualify? How much money do you get? I've never had to deal with this before and the NYS Department of Labor website is super confusing with all the technical terms. Can someone explain this in simple terms?
10 comments
Join the conversation
Cassandra Moon
Unemployment insurance benefits are basically temporary financial assistance when you lose your job through no fault of your own. In NY, you can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits. The amount depends on your previous wages - generally about half of what you were earning, up to a maximum of $504 per week. You'll need to file weekly claims and meet job search requirements. Since you worked retail for 2 years, you should definitely qualify as long as you weren't fired for misconduct.
0 coins
Eli Wang
•Thank you! So I apply through the NYS Department of Labor website? And I have to prove I'm looking for work every week?
0 coins
Zane Hernandez
yeah its basically free money from the government when u get laid off lol. just go to the ny gov website and fill out the forms. takes like 10 minutes
0 coins
Genevieve Cavalier
•It's not 'free money' - it's insurance that both you and your employer paid into through payroll taxes. And it definitely takes longer than 10 minutes to complete the application properly.
0 coins
Ethan Scott
The system is designed to help workers who lose employment through layoffs, business closures, or similar situations. You'll need to create an account on my.ny.gov and complete the initial claim application. After that, you'll file weekly claims every Sunday to certify you're still unemployed and actively searching for work. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities.
0 coins
Eli Wang
•Wait, I have to keep a log? What kind of information do they want in that?
0 coins
Ethan Scott
•Yes, you need to track the employer name, position applied for, date of contact, and method of contact (online, in-person, phone, etc.). They can request to see this log at any time during your claim period.
0 coins
Lola Perez
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly it's a nightmare. The website crashes constantly, you can never get through on the phone, and they make you jump through so many hoops just to get money you're entitled to. But yeah, unemployment insurance is supposed to replace part of your income while you look for new work. Just be prepared for a lot of frustration with their system.
0 coins
Nathaniel Stewart
•I had similar issues trying to reach them by phone. After weeks of busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a NYS Department of Labor agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much time and stress when I needed to check on my adjudication status.
0 coins
Riya Sharma
Just wanted to add - make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's no waiting period in NY, so you can file your claim right away. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can start. And don't worry about making mistakes on the application - you can always call to correct information later (though good luck getting through to them on the phone!).
0 coins