What is unemployment pay in NY - confused about NYS Department of Labor benefits
I just lost my job last week and everyone keeps telling me to file for unemployment pay but I honestly have no idea what that even means. Is it free money from the government? Do I have to pay it back later? How much do you actually get? I've never been unemployed before and the NYS Department of Labor website is really confusing with all these forms and requirements. Can someone explain what unemployment pay actually is and if it's worth the hassle to apply?
11 comments
Join the conversation
Yuki Kobayashi
Unemployment pay (also called unemployment insurance or UI) is a temporary financial benefit you can receive if you lose your job through no fault of your own. In New York, it's administered by the NYS Department of Labor. You don't have to pay it back - it's funded through taxes that employers pay. The amount depends on your previous earnings, but in 2025 the maximum weekly benefit is around $504. You can collect for up to 26 weeks typically. You do have to actively search for work and file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits.
0 coins
Ethan Moore
•Oh wow I had no idea employers were paying into this! So it's basically insurance for losing your job? That makes way more sense than free government money.
0 coins
Carmen Vega
yeah its basically unemployment insurance like the other person said. you file a claim with NYS Department of Labor and if approved you get weekly payments while looking for work. just be prepared for the process to take forever - my claim was stuck in adjudication for almost a month before getting approved
0 coins
Ethan Moore
•What's adjudication? Is that when they review your claim or something?
0 coins
Yuki Kobayashi
•Yes, adjudication is when NYS Department of Labor reviews your claim to determine if you're eligible. They might need to verify your employment history, reason for separation, or other details. It can take several weeks depending on their workload.
0 coins
QuantumQuester
The key thing to understand is that unemployment benefits are meant to partially replace your income while you search for new employment. You'll need to register for work search activities and document your job search efforts. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to search for work each week and keep a log of your activities. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone to ask questions, I recently found out about a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
0 coins
Ethan Moore
•Thanks for the info! How many jobs do I need to apply to each week? And is that service you mentioned expensive?
0 coins
QuantumQuester
•You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week. The service focuses on getting you connected rather than cost - check their site for details.
0 coins
Andre Moreau
Just to add - unemployment isn't 'free money' like some people think. You earned this benefit through working and your employer paying into the system. Don't feel bad about filing if you're eligible! The worst part is dealing with the NYS Department of Labor phone system when you have questions.
0 coins
Ethan Moore
•That's a good point about earning it through working. I feel less weird about applying now knowing it's not charity.
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
I remember being so confused when I first heard about unemployment benefits too! The amount you get is calculated based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period. So if you made good money recently, your weekly benefit will be higher. Just make sure to file your claim as soon as possible after losing your job because there can be a waiting period.
0 coins