Do I Qualify For Unemployment Benefits
To qualify for unemployment benefits, you’ll need to have been a salaried or hourly worker on another company’s payroll self-employed or freelance workers can’t claim unemployment. Furthermore, you must:
- Have lost your job due to no fault of your own
- Have enough earnings to establish a claim
- Be ready and able to work immediately
- Be actively looking for a new job
What Happens If I Wait Longer Than A Week To File A Claim For Unemployment
If you donât file your unemployment claim within a week after becoming unemployed, you could lose benefits. However, if you are unable to file for unemployment during the requisite time frame, you can request credit for a time period of lost payments by writing to the following address:
New York State Department of Labor
Central Support Unit
Be sure to include the following information in your letter:
â Full Name
â Address
â Phone Number
â The dates for which you are requesting credit
â The reason why you didnât file your claim during the required time period
â Your Social Security Number
â Include the last 4 digits of your Social Security number on the upper right corner of the letter or fax.
Or to submit a request for back weeks when you did not receive payments, you can sign into your account and send a secure message at www.labor.ny.gov/signin and click on the envelope icon on the upper right corner of the screen on the My Online Service page. Or fax a request to -457-9378.
The review process for credit takes 2 to 3 weeks, but if more information is needed it could take longer. Continue claiming benefits during this time for all weeks when you are eligible and unemployed. The Department of Labor may write or call you by telephone to request additional information. By responding promptly, you can speed up the processing of your claim in order to receive benefits more quickly.
How To Apply For Unemployment In New York
by Maurie Backman | Updated July 17, 2021 – First published on March 25, 2020
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Lost your job? Here’s what you need to know about unemployment benefits.
Millions of Americans are losing their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis. If that’s happened to you, you should file for unemployment benefits right away — even if your layoff is temporary and you expect to start working again once the business that employs you reopens. Here’s what you need to know about applying for unemployment in New York State.
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New York Unemployment Benefits
The Unemployment Insurance program in NY is handled by the Department of Labor. The department helps those who have recently lost their job for no fault of their own by providing monetary assistance and also by providing various services aimed at improving the competitiveness of the applicants.
Read more to know about the eligibility factor, documents required, methods to apply and all the other information needed to file for unemployment benefits.
What If My Benefits Ended Before This 11
If you were receiving PUA or UI benefits before the 11-week extension was available but have run out, just submit your weekly certification to kick start your benefits again. Youll be asked about your break in claims, and you must answer questions about whether you returned to work since you last certified, according to the state Department of Labor website.
The only reason you would need to reapply is if your benefit year has ended. The best way to do that is to apply online at unemployment.labor.ny.gov
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Basic Information About Collecting Unemployment In New York State
In order to collect insurance benefits in New York, you have to be ready to work and willing to work. And you also have to be able to do some kind of work. When filling out your application, be sure to answer âYESâ if all of these stipulations apply to you. During the period of time that you are unemployed, you will need to certify that you are actively looking for work each week after you begin receiving benefits.
Applicants should file their claim within the first week after they become unemployed to begin receiving benefits within 2 to 3 weeks after their claim is processed. The claim will then be backdated to the date of your unemployment and youâll be paid all of the benefits that are owed to you dating back to this time. If you file late, youâll need to make a special request for compensation of the weeks that passed after your official date of unemployment.
What If My Employer Reduced My Hours Significantly During The Pandemic What Can I Do
You are only eligible for unemployment if youve lost work and are working fewer than 30 hours a week, making $504 or less. Even if your hours have been reduced, if you dont meet these requirements, you arent eligible.
Salk said: Some employers are really taking advantage of the situation, of peoples desperation.
Salk does not advise anyone to quit their job in order to claim benefits. This may result in a disqualification.
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How Unemployment Works In New York
Heres a quick overview of how the unemployment insurance process works in New York.
How To Qualify For Unemployment In Nyc
A portion of each and every employees paycheck goes toward the New York State Unemployment Insurance Programs fund. To become eligible to access that fund, an unemployed individual must work for a minimum established time to build up benefits eligibility.
The labor office uses a published table to calculate eligibility and the amount of the benefits that unemployed workers can receive. It does not matter whether the employee worked full-time, part-time, or on a temporary basis as long as he or she meets the eligibility criteria.
Note that independent contractors will not receive unemployment coverage because they are not paid wages. If you are a member of one of these groups contact the Department of Labor to see other options available.
At a minimum, to be eligible for unemployment, persons seeking unemployment benefits must satisfy the three following elements:
1. You must have worked for at least two calendar quarters.
A calendar quarter is three months of the year. In other words, you cannot claim unemployment benefits unless you have worked for at least six months. To meet this requirement, an employee does not need to work for six consecutive months of the year, as long as the employee can demonstrate that were employed for two three-month quarters.
2. You must have been paid at least $1,900 in one calendar quarter.
3. Your total payment over four quarters must be at least 1.5 times the amount that you earned in the one highest-paying quarter.
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Unemployment Program Extensions Under Covid Relief Bill
The $900 billion COVID-19 relief package was passed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, which among several other pandemic relief measures extends and provides additional federal funding for enhanced unemployment benefits. This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and a reinstatement, but halving of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program which provides a $300 supplemental weekly unemployment payment.
These programs have been funded and extended for 11 weeks , covering the weeks of December 27th, 2020 to March 14th, 2021. To receive FPUC benefits, you must be receiving UI, PEUC, EB, or PUA. FPUC benefits cannot be backdated, and can only be provided starting the week ending January 3, 2021.
Can You Collect Unemployment If You’re Fired For Refusing The Covid
Probably not, because being fired for refusing the COVID vaccine could be considered being fired “for cause.”
“The whole idea of unemployment insurance is to tide people over for being put out of work for reasons not of their own causing,” said Thomas Kohler, law professor at Boston College. “If you have been dismissed for cause, you don’t get unemployment insurance. So, of course the big question then becomes: What constitutes cause?”
Each state sets its own definition of “for cause,” and so this issue is determined on a state-by-state basis.
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How To Apply For Unemployment In New York State
Persons seeking unemployment insurance benefits may file a claim online or by phone any time on Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., anytime on Saturday, or on Sunday until 7:00 p.m. You should file your claim within one week of losing your job to receive the maximum amount of benefits. Prior to receiving benefits, you will need to serve an unpaid waiting period equal to a full week of benefits.
To apply for unemployment insurance, you will need the following information:
- Social Security Number
- Drivers license or motor vehicle ID card number
- Complete mailing address, including zip code
- Telephone number where you can be reached during weekday business hours
- Alien registration card number
- Names and addresses for all employers for the past 18 months
- Employer registration number or Federal Employer Identification Number of your latest employer
- Copies of forms SF8 and SF50, if you were a federal employee in your last job
- Form DD14, for separation from military service, if applicable
- A check from your bank with the routing and account numbers, if you wish to register for direct deposit.
List Of Eligibility Factors To Collect Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
If you are not sure if you qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, we suggest that you contact your former employer for assistance.
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Learn How To Appeal Denied Unemployment In New York
Find New York Unemployment Appealing Denied Benefits Information
Former employees who have been denied unemployment benefits can request an unemployment denial appeal to argue their case. If you win your appeal, the New York State Department of Labor will grant you the employment insurance you are entitled to. Residents who have been denied unemployment benefits will receive a Notice of Determination via mail indicating the reasons for which they are not considered eligible to earn unemployment aid. This notice will also state for which period of time benefits are being denied as well as the steps to re-qualify or ask for a hearing with the NYSDOL. Denied claimants can begin the appeal application process through the NYSDOL.
The request to appeal a decision must be filed or postmarked within 30 days of the date you received the initial notice of determination. Filing a request for reconsideration will grant residents who have had their unemployment compensation benefits denied a hearing before an administrative law judge. If the initial appeal is denied, you may file a follow-up appeal with the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board within 20 days of the administrative law judges decision. If New York residents have been subject to wrongful termination, the UI Appeal Board may change its original decision for denial.
Find New York Unemployment Resources
How to Apply
Find Out How to Appeal Denied Benefits
What is wrongful termination?
What Documents Do I Need
- Your social security number
- Your New York State drivers license or vehicle identification card number
- Your address and full zip code
- A phone number where they can reach you Monday Friday from 8:00 a.m. at 5:00 p.m.
- Your alien registration number
- Names and addresses of all employers during the past 18 months, including in other states
- Employer Registration Number or Employer Identification Number
- Copies of your SF8 and SF50 forms, if you were a federal employee
- Your most recent separation form , if you were in the military
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How Much Might I Get
New York determines the amount of your weekly unemployment benefit by reviewing earnings during whats known as a base period. New Yorks basic base period covers your wages for the first four calendar quarters before the quarter in which you file for unemployment.
To qualify for unemployment insurance benefits, you must meet all of these earnings requirements for the base period.
- Earned wages at jobs covered by unemployment insurance in at least two calendar quarters
- Received payment of at least $2,600 in one calendar quarter
- Received total wages that are at least 1.5 times the amount of wages earned in your highest quarter
Your weekly benefit rate will be 1/26 of the high-quarter wages you earned in your base period. For example, if your wages during the base period were $4,394, the state would divide that amount by 26 to calculate your weekly payment amount of $169.
Weekly unemployment benefits in New York range from $104 to $504 for claims effective Jan. 6, 2020, or later. Again, because states may change their benefits during times of crisis, its possible these maximums can change during recessions or other difficult economic situations.
Understanding Reasons Why You May Have Your Unemployment Benefits Denied In New York
To avoid having your unemployment compensation benefits denied, you must meet the NYSDOLs specified eligibility requirements. As such, there are a number of reasons why you may have experienced denied unemployment benefits in New York. Claimants who have earned less than the minimum required wages are not eligible to receive unemployment insurance within the state.
To further expand on reasons for denied unemployment benefits, a resident who has quit his or her job without good reason, or due to marriage, is not eligible to receive payments from the NYSDOL. If you have been let go of your job due to committing a felony of any sort, you will also be denied unemployment insurance in New York.
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Collecting Your Unemployment Benefits
