Who is eligible to apply for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. I worked at a retail store for about 8 months but got laid off last week due to store closure. My friend said not everyone can get unemployment and I'm worried I might not be eligible. Can someone explain who is actually eligible to apply for unemployment through NYS Department of Labor? I don't want to waste time filing if I don't qualify.
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Tristan Carpenter
You should definitely be eligible! The basic requirements for NYS Department of Labor unemployment are: you must have worked and earned wages in NY state, lost your job through no fault of your own (layoffs count), be able and available to work, and actively looking for work. Since you were laid off due to store closure, that's exactly the type of situation unemployment is designed for. You'll also need to meet the monetary requirements - having earned enough wages in your base period.
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Maya Jackson
•Thank you! What exactly is the base period? I'm not familiar with that term.
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Amaya Watson
The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file now in 2025, they'd look at your wages from early 2024 through late 2024. You need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period and worked in at least two quarters. With 8 months of work you should easily meet this requirement.
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Grant Vikers
•dont forget you also have to register for work search within 3 days of filing your claim!
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Giovanni Martello
I was in a similar situation last year when my restaurant closed permanently. Even though I was only there 6 months I still qualified. The key thing is that you were laid off, not fired for misconduct. Store closures are pretty straightforward for unemployment approval. Just make sure when you file online through the NYS Department of Labor website that you select 'lack of work' as your reason for separation.
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Maya Jackson
•Did you have any issues with the application process? I'm nervous about making mistakes on the forms.
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Giovanni Martello
•The online application is pretty straightforward but make sure you have your employment dates and employer info ready. If you run into problems reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor by phone, I recently discovered claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual agents. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Savannah Weiner
wait so if i quit my job can i still get unemployment?? asking for a friend lol
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Tristan Carpenter
•Generally no, if you voluntarily quit you won't be eligible unless you quit for good cause related to work (like unsafe conditions or significant changes to your job). Your friend would need to have been laid off, fired without misconduct, or had their hours reduced significantly.
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Levi Parker
Just want to add that even if you're part-time you might still qualify for partial unemployment benefits if your hours got cut. A lot of people don't realize this. Also if you're on standby from your employer (temporarily laid off but expected to return) there's a different process for that through NYS Department of Labor.
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Libby Hassan
•This is good to know! I thought part-time workers couldn't get anything.
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