What must an individual do each week they receive unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?

Yes, you absolutely must file your weekly claim every week, even if you worked some hours or had no income that week. You also need to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of them. The job searches can include applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, or other approved activities. Make sure you're available and able to work each day unless you report otherwise.

You need to do several things each week: 1) File your weekly claim online at my.ny.gov by midnight Sunday, 2) Make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records, 3) Be available for work and able to work, 4) Report any income or work you did that week. The job search requirement is mandatory - you need employer name, contact info, position applied for, and date. Keep everything documented because NYS Department of Labor can request your job search log at any time.

The weekly claim is due by midnight Sunday for the previous week. You can file it online through my.ny.gov starting Monday morning. Don't wait until the last minute because the system can be slow on Sundays. For job searches, you can use the NYS Department of Labor job search log or just keep your own record with dates, company names, and what you did.

dont forget you also have to report ANY work you do that week even if its just a few hours or cash work. they will find out eventually and you'll owe overpayments if you dont report it

I struggled with reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my weekly claims. Someone here recommended Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they actually got me through to an agent the same day. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me understand my requirements better when I could actually talk to someone.

The weekly claim certification is the most important part. You'll answer questions about whether you worked, looked for work, were available, turned down any job offers, etc. Answer honestly because they cross-reference with employer reports. If you worked any hours at all, even one day, you MUST report it or you could face an overpayment demand later.

ugh the job search thing is so annoying especially when you know most applications just go into a black hole... but yeah you gotta do it or they'll cut you off

Just to add - if you miss filing a weekly claim you can usually file it the following week but you might lose that week's benefits depending on the reason. Better to file every single week even if you think you might not be eligible that week.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify any of these requirements, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent when I couldn't get through their phone lines. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to verify my job search requirements for my specific situation.

Also remember you need to be registered with the state job service and keep your resume updated. And if you're offered a job that's considered 'suitable work' you generally have to take it or risk losing benefits. The definition of suitable work can be tricky though.

@Evelyn Kelly - Just to summarize the key weekly requirements since there's a lot of info here: 1) File your weekly claim by midnight Sunday at my.ny.gov, 2) Complete 3 job search activities and keep detailed records (company name, position, date, contact info), 3) Report ANY work or income even if it's just a few hours, 4) Be available and able to work each day. The job search log doesn't have to be on a special form - you can keep your own records as long as they're detailed. I'd recommend filing your weekly claim earlier in the week rather than waiting until Sunday to avoid any system issues. Good luck with your claim!