Where do I submit my work search for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I went through this same confusion when I first started collecting benefits! The documentation requirements can be really overwhelming at first. One tip I learned the hard way - make sure you're keeping track of the specific METHOD you used for each job search activity (like "applied through company website" vs "submitted resume via Indeed" vs "attended job fair"). If you do get audited, they want those details. Also, networking events and job fairs definitely count as qualifying activities, so don't overlook those opportunities. I keep a simple notebook where I jot down everything right after I do it - that way I don't forget the details later.