What makes you eligible to collect unemployment - confused about NYS Department of Labor requirements
I've been working part-time at a retail store for about 8 months and just got laid off due to store closure. My manager said I might be able to get unemployment but I'm not sure what makes you eligible to collect unemployment through NYS Department of Labor. I never filed for UI before and don't know if my part-time work history counts or what other requirements there are. Can someone explain the basic eligibility rules? I'm really stressed about making rent next month.
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Abigail Spencer
To be eligible for unemployment in NY, you need to meet several requirements: 1) You must have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, 2) You must have earned at least $2,700 in your highest quarter, 3) You must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own, 4) You must be able and available for work, and 5) You must actively search for work. Your part-time work definitely counts toward these wage requirements as long as you meet the dollar thresholds.
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Anita George
•Thank you! What exactly is a base period? And how do I know if I earned enough in my highest quarter?
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Logan Chiang
The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024. You can check your wage history on the NYS Department of Labor website once you create an account.
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Isla Fischer
•yeah this is right, I had to look up all my old pay stubs when I filed last year to make sure everything matched
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Miles Hammonds
Don't forget you also have to register for work search activities and report your job search contacts every week when you file your weekly claim. It's not just about past wages - you have to prove you're actively looking for new employment.
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Ruby Blake
ugh the job search requirement is so annoying especially when there aren't many jobs in your field. I've been filing for 6 weeks and running out of places to apply to that make sense for my experience level
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Abigail Spencer
•You can also count attending job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews as job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor accepts various types of work search efforts, not just online applications.
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Micah Franklin
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your eligibility or file your claim, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Anita George
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.
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Micah Franklin
•It's worth checking out their site for details, but honestly the time saved was huge for me. I was calling for days trying to get through to verify my claim status.
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Isla Fischer
Also just FYI if you quit your job you usually can't collect unemployment unless it was for good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment. But getting laid off definitely qualifies you as long as you meet the wage requirements.
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