Who pays unemployment federal funding vs state - confused about NYS Department of Labor structure
I'm trying to understand how unemployment benefits actually get funded and I'm getting mixed information. I know I file through NYS Department of Labor but who actually pays for my weekly benefits? Is it federal money or state money? My coworker said it's all federal but that doesn't sound right since I file with New York state. Also does this affect how much I can get or how long I can collect? I've been on unemployment for 8 weeks now and want to make sure I understand where the money comes from in case there are any budget issues.
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Evelyn Martinez
The funding structure is actually a combination of both federal and state sources, but it's more complex than most people realize. For regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits through NYS Department of Labor, the money comes from state unemployment insurance taxes that employers pay. This creates a state-specific trust fund that pays your weekly benefits. However, the federal government sets many of the guidelines and provides oversight. During recessions or high unemployment periods, federal extensions can kick in with federal funding, but your regular 26 weeks of NY benefits are funded by NY employer taxes.
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Alexander Evans
•That makes sense! So my regular benefits are coming from taxes that NY employers paid into the state system. Does that mean if NY's fund runs low, my benefits could be affected?
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Benjamin Carter
yeah its mostly state money for the regular benefits but federal government can step in when things get bad like during covid they had all those extra programs
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Maya Lewis
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim status, but I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me understand my benefit calculation and funding source when I was confused about the same thing.
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Alexander Evans
•Thanks for the tip! I might need to use that if I have more questions about my claim.
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Isaac Wright
Wait so if it's state funding why do I have to follow federal job search requirements?? This whole system is so confusing and nobody at NYS Department of Labor explains anything clearly when you call.
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Evelyn Martinez
•Good question! The federal government sets minimum standards that all states must follow to participate in the unemployment insurance system. So while NY funds your benefits, they have to follow federal rules about job search requirements, eligibility, etc. to keep receiving federal administrative funding and maintain the system.
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Lucy Taylor
been dealing with this system for months and its all a mess, doesn't matter who pays for it when they make it impossible to actually get your money! NYS Department of Labor website crashes half the time
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Connor Murphy
Just to add to what others said - the State Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is what pays your regular benefits in NY. Employers pay state unemployment taxes based on their payroll and claim history. The federal government mainly provides administrative oversight and emergency funding during crises. Your benefit amount and duration are determined by NY state law, not federal law, though federal minimums apply.
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Alexander Evans
•Perfect explanation, thank you! Now I understand why I file with NYS Department of Labor but still have to follow some federal requirements.
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Amina Bah
As someone who's currently navigating this system, I really appreciate everyone breaking this down! I was also confused about the funding structure when I first started collecting. One thing that helped me was understanding that while NY state funds the regular benefits through employer taxes, the federal government can also provide extended benefits during high unemployment periods (like the PEUC and PUA programs during COVID). It's reassuring to know that the State Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund has been built up over time through employer contributions, so it's not just dependent on annual budget allocations. Has anyone had experience with what happens if you move to another state while collecting NY benefits?
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Liam Fitzgerald
•Great question about moving to another state! I actually went through this situation last year. When you move to another state while collecting NY unemployment, you can generally continue receiving your NY benefits as long as you meet all the requirements (like job searching and being available for work). You just need to update your address with NYS Department of Labor and make sure you're still eligible to work in your new location. The key thing is that your claim stays with the state where you originally filed (NY in this case), so you'll continue getting benefits from the NY State Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund that everyone explained so well above. Just make sure to report the move promptly to avoid any issues with your weekly certifications!
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Miguel Silva
This is such a helpful thread! I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks now and was also confused about the funding. What really helped me understand it was thinking of it like insurance - NY employers have been paying into this state fund for years, kind of like how you pay car insurance premiums before you need to make a claim. The NYS Department of Labor essentially manages this insurance fund that employers have built up through their unemployment tax contributions. One thing I'm still wondering about though - does the size of NY's unemployment trust fund affect how quickly they process claims? I've noticed some delays in my payments and wasn't sure if that was related to funding levels or just system capacity issues.
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Angel Campbell
•That's a great insurance analogy! From what I understand, the trust fund balance doesn't directly affect payment processing speed - those delays are usually more about system capacity and staffing levels at NYS Department of Labor rather than actual funding availability. The state is required to maintain certain reserve levels in the trust fund, and if it gets too low, they can borrow from the federal government or adjust employer tax rates. The processing delays you're experiencing are more likely due to the high volume of claims and the department's technological infrastructure struggles that others have mentioned in this thread.
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