Where do I submit my work search for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
I'm really confused about where I'm supposed to submit my work search activities for my unemployment claim. I know I need to keep track of my job search efforts but I can't figure out where to actually submit this information to NYS Department of Labor. Do I upload it somewhere on the my.ny.gov website? Do I mail it in? I've been keeping a log of all my applications and interviews but I don't want to mess up my benefits by not submitting it properly. Can someone please explain the correct process?
9 comments


Mei Wong
You don't actually submit your work search log unless NYS Department of Labor specifically requests it. You're required to keep detailed records of your job search activities (at least 3 work search activities per week) but you only submit them if you get selected for an audit or if there's an issue with your claim. Just make sure you're logging everything - employer names, dates, positions applied for, and method of contact.
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Jamal Washington
•Oh wow, I had no idea! I've been looking everywhere for a submission form. So I just keep the records and only send them if they ask?
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Liam Fitzgerald
yeah i was confused about this too when i first started claiming. they dont want you to submit it every week, just keep good records. i use a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, job titles, and how i applied (online, in person, etc). been doing it for 2 months and never had to submit anything
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PixelWarrior
The key thing is making sure your work search activities meet NYS Department of Labor requirements. You need at least 3 qualifying activities per week, and they have to be reasonable for your field and experience level. Keep records for at least 6 weeks because if they do audit you, they'll want recent documentation. I had to submit mine once during an audit and it was pretty straightforward - they just wanted proof I was actively looking.
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Amara Adebayo
•What counts as a qualifying work search activity? I've been applying online mostly but also going to some networking events.
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Giovanni Rossi
I actually had to deal with this recently when I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor about a claim issue. After weeks of busy signals and getting disconnected, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration trying to get answers about my work search requirements and other claim questions.
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Jamal Washington
•Thanks for mentioning that! I might need to contact them if I have more questions about my claim status.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
Just keep doing what you're doing with the log. The system is set up so they can audit randomly but most people never get asked for their records. Make sure you're actually doing legitimate job search activities though - they can tell if you're just making stuff up.
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Omar Hassan
This is really helpful information! I've been stressing about this for weeks thinking I was missing some important submission deadline. So just to confirm - I keep my detailed records of job applications, interviews, networking events, etc., but I only need to provide them to NYS DOL if they specifically request them during an audit or claim review? And the requirement is still 3 qualifying work search activities per week, correct? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right to avoid any issues with my benefits.
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