Worked at nonprofit - eligible for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
I just got laid off from my job at a local nonprofit organization here in NY and I'm trying to figure out if I can even file for unemployment. Someone told me that nonprofits don't pay into the unemployment system so their employees can't collect benefits. Is this true? I worked there for 2 years full-time doing fundraising and community outreach. Really stressed about this because I need to know if I should even bother applying with NYS Department of Labor or start looking for other options immediately.
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Carmella Popescu
Actually, most nonprofits in New York DO pay into the unemployment insurance system just like regular employers. The key thing is whether they're a 501(c)(3) with 4+ employees - if so, they're required to pay unemployment taxes and you're eligible for benefits. You should definitely file your claim with NYS Department of Labor. The only nonprofits that might be exempt are very small religious organizations or certain volunteer-based groups.
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Lorenzo McCormick
•Thank you! That's such a relief. We definitely had way more than 4 employees so I should be good to file then.
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Kai Santiago
yeah i worked for a nonprofit too and got unemployment no problem. just file online through the ny.gov website like anyone else would
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Lim Wong
Wait, I'm confused about this too. I thought all employers had to pay unemployment taxes? Why would nonprofits be different? I've been putting off filing because I wasn't sure and the NYS Department of Labor phone lines are impossible to get through to ask questions.
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Dananyl Lear
•There are some special rules for nonprofits but most of them do participate in the UI system. If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone, you might want to check out claimyr.com - they have a service that helps people get through to actual agents. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it last month when I needed to resolve an adjudication issue and it saved me hours of calling.
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Noah huntAce420
The whole nonprofit thing is so confusing!! I worked for a community center that was definitely a nonprofit and when I got let go during budget cuts I was terrified I wouldn't qualify. But NYS Department of Labor approved my claim within like 10 days. Just make sure you have all your employment documentation when you file - pay stubs, your termination letter, etc. The job search requirements are the same as everyone else too.
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Ana Rusula
This is exactly why the unemployment system in NY is so broken - people don't even know what they're entitled to! Of course nonprofits pay unemployment taxes, they're EMPLOYERS just like anyone else. The fact that you even had to ask this question shows how poorly NYS Department of Labor communicates basic information to workers.
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Carmella Popescu
•I understand the frustration but it's actually not that straightforward. There are legitimate exemptions for certain types of nonprofit organizations, especially smaller religious groups. The confusion is understandable given the complexity of the rules.
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Fidel Carson
just wanted to say good luck with your claim! nonprofit work is really important and its good that you can get benefits while you look for something new
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Jibriel Kohn
I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from a nonprofit arts organization in Brooklyn. The uncertainty was really stressful! But like others have said, most nonprofits in NY do pay into the unemployment system. I was able to file my claim online and got approved pretty quickly. One tip - when you file, make sure to list your job title exactly as it appeared on your pay stubs. The NYS Department of Labor system can be picky about matching employment records. Also keep copies of everything you submit because sometimes they'll ask for documentation later during the review process. Hope this helps and hang in there!
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NeonNomad
•This is really helpful advice! I'm also dealing with a nonprofit layoff situation and the tip about matching job titles exactly is something I wouldn't have thought of. Did you run into any issues with the work search requirements while looking for nonprofit positions? I'm worried that there might not be enough similar openings to meet the weekly requirements since nonprofit jobs seem less common than regular corporate positions.
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