Additional Interest Assessment Until Debt Is Repaid
Interest accrual on UI debt was temporarily suspended by the federal government through September 6, 2021. Interest was charged at an annual rate of 2.2777 percent in 2021 and 1.5909 percent in 2022. Interest accumulated for each federal fiscal year is paid in one lump sum by September 30.18 New York has accumulated $110 million in interest for the federal fiscal year 2022.19 As interest may not be paid directly from a states trust fund, starting in 2022, New York employers also will be subject to a once-a-year special interest assessment surcharge to cover the interest payments.20
New York States Ui Program
New Yorks State UI tax rates are composed of three component rates: a normal, subsidiary, and re-employment service fund rate. The normal and subsidiary rates vary across employers based on an experience rating system, in which a given employers rates are calculated based on factors such as payroll size, how often their former employees claim UI benefits, and the fiscal health of New Yorks UI Trust Fund. The RSF rate is constant across all employers.6 The sum of these three rates is applied to the first $12,000 of an employees annual wages in 2022.7 New Yorks taxable wage base is set to increase every year until 2026, when it will reach $13,000 and convert to 16 percent of the states annual average wage thereafter.8
As a result, an employer with many former employees who claimed UI benefits will be assessed a higher state UI tax rate than an employer with fewer claimants. Furthermore, all employers will pay higher rates when the Trust Funds balance is negative. In 2019, prior to the pandemic when New Yorks Trust Fund balance was positive, New York UI tax rates ranged from 0.6 percent to 7.9 percent, with an average rate of 2.2 percent in 2021, these rates ranged from 2.1 to 9.9 percent, with an average of rate of 3.6 percent.9
W Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus
The W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus is an in western , , that houses sixteen office buildings. The land totals roughly 330 acres and over 3 million square feet of office space, and about 7,000 state employees work there. The campus was built during the 1950s and 1960s in a suburban, car-oriented style bordered by an outer that cuts the campus off from the surrounding neighborhoods. The campus is flanked by to the north, Western Avenue to the south, to the west, and to the east. With its own steam generation power plant for cooling and heating the campus is mostly self-sufficient.
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Do You Meet The Minimum Earnings Requirement
Virtually all states look at your recent work history and earnings during a one-year âbase periodâ to determine your eligibility for unemployment compensation. In New York, as in most states, the base period is the earliest four of the five complete calendar quarters before you filed your claim for benefits. For example, if you filed your claim in October of 2020, the base period would be from June 1, 2019, through May 31, 2020.
New York recognizes an alternate base period for those who canât meet the earnings requirements in the regular base period. The alternate base period is the last four completed quarters before the person files for unemployment. This alternate period takes more recent employment into account. Even filers who qualify using the regular base period can ask the agency to instead use the alternate base period to calculate their benefits, if that would result in a higher weekly amount.
During the base period, your work history and earnings must meet all three of the following requirements:
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âI find it ironic that this audit was released a week after New Yorkers headed to the polls in an election that was among the closest in New Yorkâs recent history,â Tenney, R-Canandaigua, said. âJust as concerning is that the report found at least $11 billion in COVID-19 unemployment insurance fraud.
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How Can I Qualify For New York Unemployment Benefits
To be eligible for unemployment benefits in New York, you must
- Be unemployed through no fault of your own
- Meet requirements for prior earnings
To continue receiving benefits after youre approved for them, you typically must meet these requirements.
- Be ready, willing and able to work immediately while actively seeking work
- Claim weekly benefits and certify eligibility for each week of unemployment
- Attend all required appointments at a local career center
Governor Hochul Announces Excelsior Scholarship Application Open For New Applicants For Spring 2023
SUNY and CUNY Students Whose Families Make Up to $125,000 Annually Can Apply for Tuition-Free College
Applications Accepted Through February 9, 2023
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the application for the Excelsior Scholarship for new applicants for the Spring 2023 term is now open here. The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid, allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free.
“Since its inception, the Excelsior Scholarship has enabled tens of thousands of students from low and middle-income families the chance to pursue a quality education tuition-free,” Governor Hochul said. “By easing the financial burden associated with the cost of attending college, students and their families can focus on their education, providing New York’s students every possible opportunity to climb the ladder of success.”
Students from households with federal adjusted gross incomes up to $125,000 are eligible for a Spring Excelsior Scholarship award. Students must also:
- Plan to attend a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college
- Complete 30 credits per year towards their program of study and
- Be on track to graduate with an Associate’s Degree in two years or a Bachelor’s Degree in four years
Applications will be accepted through February 9, 2023.
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How To File A Partial Claim
If you lost work and you are working part time 30 hours or fewer a week and making $504 or less per week, the following guidelines apply when reporting your part-time work , effective August 16, 2021 and forward:
- 10 or fewer hours of work = 0 days worked: No reduction in weekly benefit rate
- 11 16 hours of work = 1 day worked: 75% of weekly benefit rate
- 17 21 hours of work = 2 days worked: 50% of weekly benefit rate
- 22 30 hours of work = 3 days worked: 25% of weekly benefit rate
- 31+ hours of work = 4 days worked: 0% of weekly benefit rate
See the chart below for easy reference:
Guidelines for Reporting Part-time Work*
| Hours You Worked Per Week | Number of Days You Should Report to UI | Percent Reduction in Your Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 10 |
How Do I Apply
To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked. Depending on the state, claims may be filed in person, by telephone, or online.
- You should contact your state’s unemployment insurance program as soon as possible after becoming unemployed.
- Generally, you should file your claim with the state where you worked. If you worked in a state other than the one where you now live or if you worked in multiple states, the state unemployment insurance agency where you now live can provide information about how to file your claim with other states.
- When you file a claim, you will be asked for certain information, such as addresses and dates of your former employment. To make sure your claim is not delayed, be sure to give complete and correct information.
- It generally takes two to three weeks after you file your claim to receive your first benefit check.
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Unemployment Insurance Is A State
The U.S. unemployment insurance system is a partnership between states and the federal government. The U.S. Department of the Treasury sets the minimum benefit level and duration, while state governments establish specific design parameters, such as income replacement rates, and administer the UI systems.3
The Treasury holds a UI account in trust for each state, funded by a combination of state and federal taxes on employers. Each state sets its own UI tax rates, with revenues deposited into its trust fund account. While the federal tax rate is technically 6 percent on the first $7,000 of annual wages per employee, it is usually lowered by a federal unemployment tax credit. States without outstanding debt owed to the federal government have a net effective federal tax rate 0.6 percent, while those with a balance face a higher rate.4
If a states UI trust fund is depleted during periods of high claims, the Treasury provides a loan to cover benefit payments. The federal government may charge interest on UI loans if they are not repaid by the end of the federal fiscal year in which they were obtained, though these rules may be suspended during recessions and emergencies. A negative balance in a states trust fund, however, generally increases state and federal tax UI rates until it is paid off.5
Online Services For Individuals
if you experience issues logging in with your NY.gov username and password. You can also certify for weekly benefits with our automated phone system by calling 833-324-0366 or 888-581-5812 .
To file a Shared Work claim or to certify for weekly benefits, please sign in to your account below or create a new account. If you are not a Shared Work participant, and you need to file a new claim, please go to unemployment.labor.ny.gov to file your first claim for unemployment insurance benefits.
WARNING: Use of a Virtual Private Network , proxy, or internet anonymizer service will cause problems with your ability to apply or certify for benefits. Turn these services off before accessing online services. If you cannot turn off your VPN please call 1-888-209-8124 to apply for benefits or 1-888-581-5812 to certify for benefits.
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Responses By Other States
On January 1, 2021, 18 states and territories had outstanding loans with the federal UTF as of May 31, 2022, there were seven states and territories with outstanding advances.9 On that date, loans drawn by California and New York summed to almost $25.8 billion, representing nearly 86 percent of the total balance in the United States Illinois and Massachusetts held balances of about $1.8 billion each.
FIGURE 3: States Outstanding Balances with the Federal UTF
States have addressed their outstanding advances with the federal UTF by using surplus funding, issuing bonds, and modifying tax rates. In addition, the National Conference of State Legislatures notes that 20 states have used ARP Act State Fiscal Recovery Funds to repay these loans and/or replenish state UI funds.10 States that have taken such actions since September 2021 include Nevada, Ohio, Maryland, Texas and Minnesota.11
Business Leaders Plead With Hochul For Relief From Unemployment Costs
ALBANY Farmers, dairy businesses and others involved in the agriculture sector say state government has a responsibility to provide relief from soaring unemployment insurance costs stemming from mismanagement by the state Department of Labor.
The agency, which is controlled by Gov. Kathy Hochul, was the subject of a scathing audit released following last months statewide elections by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. His team of auditors determined a projected $11 billion in public funds could not be accounted for due to fraud and lax oversight of unemployment benefits managed by the Labor Department.
STATES NEGLIGENCE
Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon, first installed in the post by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, remains in command at the agency.
Farmers and agricultural businesses cannot and should not bear the weight of replenishing the Unemployment Insurance trust fund and repaying the federal government alone, and NYSDOL should be held accountable for the negligence in overseeing the states UI system that resulted in $11 billion of fraudulent payments, a coalition of organizations that included the New York State Farm Bureau and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association said in a statement.
The coalition is urging Hochul to provide up to $3 billion to the fund, maintaining the cost of unemployment insurance for many businesses has become unaffordable.
MINIMUM WAGE HIKE
REPORT RELEASE
WAREHOUSE WORKER BILL
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State Ui Tax Rates Have Already Increased Federal Rates Will Increase Next
New Yorks State UI tax rates have already increased, and federal rates will increase soon. In January 2021, the New York Department of Labor increased State UI tax rates to their highest possible levels, as required by State law. Specifically, in 2021, the minimum State rate increased from 0.6 percent to 2.1 percent , and the maximum State rate increased from 7.9 percent to 9.9 percent .16 As a result, the average State UI rate on employers increased from 2.2 percent in 2019 to 3.6 percent in 2021, an increase of 64 percent, from $292.80 to $466.80 per employee. New Yorks State UI tax rates will stay at these elevated levels until the States UI Trust Fund balance is positive.
The federal UI tax rate will increase if New York is in debt on November 10, 2022, with employers facing a FUTA credit reduction of 0.3 percentage pointsretroactively raising the effective federal rate to 0.9 percent for 2022. Further annual 0.3 percentage point reductions will occur until the debt is paid off.17
Illinois Paying Unemployment Debt Without Full Accounting Of Fraud
As Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced plans to appropriate $1.8 billion to cover the states unemployment trust fund debt, the question remains of how much fraud took place.
After months of negotiations in working groups throughout the year, an agreement was announced in November by representatives from business, labor and members of the General Assembly. The state still owes more than $1.3 billion that would have hit taxpayers with an additional $20 million in interest payments next September.
The remaining $450 million will be placed into the trust fund from other state funds as an interest-free loan. Then, according to a news release, funds will be deposited directly into the state’s rainy-day fund as the loan is repaid over the next 10 years.
We have a good agreement, said state Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva. It’s good for labor, it’s good for business, it’s good for the people of the state of Illinois.
For months, Republican lawmakers and business leaders have been calling on the state to repay the loan to avoid paying interest. Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said this agreement is crucial for Illinois businesses.
It will ensure greater stability in the unemployment insurance systems, and means Illinois employers will face at least $900 million less in taxes over five years than they would have otherwise, Karr said.
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Frequently Asked Questions On Unemployment Claims
Find the latest Frequently Asked Questions on Unemployment Insurance here:
Q: I filed a claim, what next?
A: For each week you wish to receive benefits, you must request payment by claiming benefits for that week. Go to How do I claim? for details. Before we can pay any benefits, you must serve an unpaid waiting period. This equals one full week of unemployment benefits. You must claim credit for your unpaid waiting week during the period that:
- Begins on the first Sunday after you file your claim and
- Ends the next Saturday
The waiting period is waived now for COVID-19
Each week that you are unemployed, you must request payment if you want to receive unemployment benefits. You certify that weekly claim on Sunday, for the week ending that day.
Q: How do I claim my weekly benefits?
A: See the Guide for Claiming Weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fact Sheet
You may claim your weekly unemployment benefits:
- On the web with your NY.GOV ID
- , using a touch-tone phone
Both systems are available in English and Spanish.If you use TTY/TDD equipment, call a relay operator first at 800-662-1220, and ask the operator to call the Telephone Claims Center at 888-783-1370.If you are claiming weekly benefits on-line, you may do so:
Beginning Sunday, 3/29 â all dayMonday through Friday 7:30 am to midnightSaturday â all day
To fax your request, send to 457-9378. By mail send to:New York State Department of LaborPO Box 15130Albany, NY 12212-5130
Expanded Unemployment In New York During The Covid
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill known as the American Rescue Plan .
Under ARP, the $300 per week federal unemployment supplement is extended until September 6, 2021.
The law also extends two unemployment programs originally created by the CARES Act in March 2020: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation .
Under the PUA program, self-employed workersusually excluded from unemployment benefitsare entitled to unemployment if they meet certain criteria. ARP makes PUA benefits available through Labor Day 2021, and increases the maximum duration of these benefits from 50 to 79 weeks.
The PEUC program provides for a federally-funded extension of benefits when state unemployment benefits expire. ARP increases the maximum duration of PEUC benefits from 24 to 53 weeks, with an expiry date of September 4, 2021.
For up-to-date information on New Yorkâs rules on unemployment eligibility and amounts during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the state Department of Laborâs Unemployment page.
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