What is unemployment training benefits through NYS Department of Labor?

Training benefits through NYS Department of Labor allow you to attend approved education or training programs while collecting unemployment. There are two main types: Section 599 training which waives your job search requirements, and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) which can extend benefits and help with tuition costs. You need NYS Department of Labor approval before starting any program to maintain your weekly claim eligibility.

i think you can go to school and still get unemployment but not sure about extra money. my cousin did some computer course last year while on UI

You MUST get pre-approval from NYS Department of Labor before starting any training program. If you start classes without approval, they can disqualify your entire claim for not being available for work. For Section 599 training, you'll need to show the program leads to employment in a high-demand field. The approval process can take 2-3 weeks, so apply early. You still file weekly claims but don't need to do job searches.

Wait so if I'm taking classes I don't have to do the stupid job search requirements? That would be amazing because those weekly logs are such a pain and half the jobs I apply to never respond anyway

The whole NYS Department of Labor training system is confusing and they make it impossible to get straight answers. I tried calling about nursing school approval and got transferred 5 times before getting hung up on. The website has like 20 different forms and none of them are clearly labeled for what I needed.

For anyone looking into this - I got Section 599 approval for a medical coding certificate program last fall. The key is making sure your program is on their ETPL (Eligible Training Provider List) and that it's full-time. Part-time programs usually don't qualify. You'll need to submit Form TE-549 along with the school's course catalog and your acceptance letter. My approval took about 3 weeks to process.

@Zoe Christodoulou I went through this process last year and it's definitely worth pursuing! The key thing to understand is that there are different types of training benefits. Section 599 is the most common - it allows you to attend approved full-time training while continuing to collect unemployment without having to do job searches. However, it doesn't cover tuition costs. If you're laid off due to trade/globalization reasons, you might qualify for TAA which can actually help pay for training. I'd recommend calling the NYS Department of Labor training unit directly (though be prepared for long hold times) or visiting your local career center where they can walk you through the application process in person. Make sure to have your training program information ready before you apply.

I actually just went through the Section 599 approval process a few months ago for a cybersecurity bootcamp. The career center route is definitely faster than calling - I was able to sit down with a counselor who helped me fill out Form TE-549 correctly and explained exactly what documentation I needed. They also verified that my program was on the ETPL list right there in the office. As for timing, you can apply for Section 599 approval at any point during your unemployment claim, but you MUST get approval before starting classes. I applied about 6 weeks into my claim and it worked fine. Just remember that Section 599 only waives job search requirements - you still need to be physically able to work and available for work outside of class hours. If you're doing a full-time intensive program, make sure to discuss this with your counselor to avoid any issues with your claim.