What to do during unemployment while collecting NYS Department of Labor benefits - need guidance
I just got laid off from my retail job last week and filed for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor. My claim got approved but I'm honestly not sure what I'm supposed to be doing during unemployment while I'm collecting benefits. Like I know I have to file my weekly claims but what else? Do I have to apply for a certain number of jobs each week? Can I take classes or volunteer? I'm 28 and this is my first time being unemployed so I feel completely lost about the whole process. Any advice on what to do during unemployment would be really helpful.
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Carmen Diaz
Yes, you need to actively search for work while collecting unemployment benefits. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log of your search activities. You also need to be able and available for work, which means you can't turn down suitable job offers. You can take training courses but they need to be approved, and volunteering is fine as long as it doesn't interfere with your job search or availability for work.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Thanks! Where do I keep this job search log? Is there a specific form I need to use or can I just write it down somewhere?
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Andre Laurent
Keep a detailed record of every job you apply for - company name, position, date applied, how you applied (online, in person, etc). NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search activities at any time and if you can't prove you've been looking for work, they'll cut off your benefits. I learned this the hard way when they asked me for my job search records after 6 weeks.
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Emily Jackson
•Wait, they actually check? I thought it was just honor system...
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Liam Mendez
ugh the job search requirement is so stressful!! like what if there just aren't 3 good jobs to apply for in my field that week?? do I have to apply for jobs I'm overqualified for just to meet the quota? this whole system feels designed to make us fail
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Carmen Diaz
•You do need to expand your search if there aren't enough jobs in your preferred field. NYS Department of Labor considers 'suitable work' to include jobs that might be slightly outside your usual field, especially as your unemployment period gets longer.
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Sophia Nguyen
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about job search requirements or anything else, I had good luck with a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent when the phone lines are always busy. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself when I had questions about my weekly claims.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Interesting, I'll check that out. The one time I tried calling NYS Department of Labor I was on hold for like 2 hours and then got disconnected.
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Jacob Smithson
Also remember to report ANY income you earn during unemployment on your weekly claims, even if it's just $20 from a side gig. NYS Department of Labor will find out eventually and then you'll owe back all the benefits plus penalties. Better to be honest upfront.
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Emily Jackson
same boat here, got laid off from restaurant work in december. the weekly filing is super easy once you get used to it but yeah the job search thing is annoying. at least we're getting some money coming in though!
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