If You’ve Lost Your Job Because Of The Coronavirus Pandemic Or Any Other Reason You Might Qualify For Unemployment Benefits In New York Learn Whether You’re Eligible And How Much You Might Receive
In New Yorkas in every other stateemployees who are temporarily out of work through no fault of their own may qualify to collect unemployment benefits. The eligibility rules, prior earnings requirements, benefit amounts, and other details vary from state to state, however.
Here are the basic rules for collecting unemployment compensation in New York.
Ny Times Columnist Blasted For Touting Biden Boom
American employers posted fewer job openings in June as the economy contends with raging inflation and rising interest rates.
Job openings fell to a still-high 10.7 million in June from 11.3 million in May, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Job openings, which never exceeded 8 million in a month before last year, had topped 11 million every month from December through May before dipping in June.
In its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, the Labor Department said that the number of Americans quitting their jobs fell slightly but remained high at 4.2 million in June while layoffs fell to 1.3 million from 1.4 million in May.
The job market has been resilient so far this year, and companies have complained that it is hard to fill open positions: Employers have added an average of 457,000 a jobs a month in 2022 and unemployment is near a 50-year low. That is one reason many economists believe the economy is not yet in a recession even though gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic output, has contracted for two quarters in a row one rule of thumb for the onset of a downturn.
If the economy is rolling over, the labor market had apparently not gotten the memo yet as of the end of June, said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities. A case could be made for slight moderation from an egregiously overheated state, but that is about as far as I would go in assessing labor market conditions.
Certify For Your Weekly Benefits Online
Refer to this step by step process on how to certify for your weekly benefits:
Note: If you have a service that makes your internet address anonymous, please turn it off when claiming weekly benefits. Otherwise, your certification may be blocked.
Ready? Make sure you have with you:
You will need an NY.gov ID to sign up for an online account. If you already have an NY.gov ID username and password, you can use it for our system. If you do not have an NY.gov ID, follow the instructions on our website at labor.ny.gov/signin to create one.
If you have difficulties with NY.gov ID, call the Contact Center at 800-833-3000 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday
Recommended Reading: Where Can I Cash My Unemployment Check
Do You Meet The Minimum Earnings Requirement
Virtually all states look at your recent work history and earnings during a one-year “base period” 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 can’t 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:
Balance Remains High Despite Recovery And Increased Ui Tax Collections
New Yorks ability to repay the federal loan is directly tied to the strength of its economic recovery and the tax rates levied on employers. State UI tax rates vary based on employers payroll, UI benefits paid to former employees and the size of the State UI fund balance. Collections of UI taxes are deposited to the States fund for the payment of benefits. Although unemployment decreased dramatically in 2021, total benefit payments remained greater than total UI tax collections, contributing to the persistently high balance in New Yorks outstanding loan.
Fewer Unemployed Individuals, Claims and Benefits Paid
Greater UI Tax Collections
State UI tax rates increased in 2021 from the prior year combined with employment growth, these increases have bolstered tax collections by more than 54 percent from $2.1 billion in 2020 to $3.2 billion in 2021. These revenues are used to fund benefit payments and pay down outstanding balances.7
New Yorks large repayments in May 2022, however, indicate greater movement towards paying down its current advance. If the overall trend of decreasing UI benefit payments continues, or such payments remain at recent levels, and UI tax collections continue to increase , New York will be able to continue taking fewer advances and making larger repayments.
FIGURE 2: New Yorks UI Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Also Check: How To Sign Up For Unemployment In Oklahoma
Nys Department Of Labor Asks People To Give Back Overpayments
More Videos
BUFFALO, N.Y. With so many people still out of work, it came as a shock to many when they got a letter and/or an email last week from the New York State Department of Labor asking for money back.
It turns out, some people got duplicate payments, and now the state wants that money returned.
2 On Your Side’s Kelly Dudzik did a bunch of stories about $600 mystery payments last April and May, and when the NYS Department of Labor finally got back to us, a spokesperson didn’t say anything about people having to eventually give the money back.
But on Friday, people started getting those letters and emails asking for it back, and that meant people started calling and emailing 2 On Your Side wondering if they were being scammed.
Carly L. got both a letter in the mail and an email. She told us, “The amount is $1,200 and while searching my records, I have determined must be the two mystery payments. Paying this back would create great financial hardship on me as I’m making less money working 30 hours a week than most are collecting on unemployment and I’m struggling to pay student loans for my bachelor’s degree.”
Becky S. emailed asking, “Is the email and letter received truly from the Department of Labor?” She also said, “If it is true that you have to pay back the $600, how does the waiver apply and who is entitled to that?”
So what does that mean?
Are You Out Of Work Through No Fault Of Your Own
You must be out of work through no fault of your own to qualify for unemployment compensation in New York. If you are laid off, lose your job in a reduction-in-force , or get “downsized” for economic reasons, you will meet this requirement. You will also likely be eligible for unemployment benefits if you are fired because you don’t meet the qualifications for the job or you fail to meet the employer’s performance or productivity standards.
In New York, employees who are fired for work-related misconduct may not qualify for unemployment benefits. Examples of work-related misconduct include violating company policy or rules, such as those prohibiting absenteeism or insubordination. If you are fired for conviction of a felony , you also won’t be eligible for benefits.
If you quit your job, you won’t be eligible for unemployment unless you had good cause for quitting.
Don’t Miss: Can I Get Unemployment If I M Part Time
New York State Department Of Labor Employment Services
The New York State Department of Labor gives Veterans priority service in all New York State employment and training programs. This priority service is guaranteed in federal law and by the New York State Veterans Bill of Rights for Employment Services. Services include career assessment, job referrals, resume preparation, job-search planning, 55-c Civil Service positions, & more.
Additional information on DOL Employment Services for Veterans can be found on their website.
The Hire-a-Vet Credit encourages the hire of qualified Veterans. Businesses must employ a qualified Veteran for no less than 35 hours per week for one full year. A qualified Veteran is someone who served on active duty in the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Reserves, National Guard, New York Guard or New York Naval Militia, and was released from active duty by general or honorable discharge after September 11, 2001. Qualified Veterans must attest that they were not employed for 35 or more hours in the previous 180 days. Businesses may earn up to $5,000 for hiring a qualified Veteran, and up to $15,000 for hiring one who is disabled.
For assistance, please call the New York State Labor Department at 1-888-4-NYSDOL or visit their website.
If you were recently discharged from military service, you may be able to establish a claim for unemployment benefits. Applicants must meet the following conditions:
Nys Dol Will No Longer Be Mailing Unemployment Charge Statements
Employers Must Go Online to Review Them To Protest Charges and Report Fraudulent Claims
The New York State Department of Labor is no longer mailing out Notice of Experience Rating Charges or Notice of Benefit Reimbursement Charges statements to employers. Going forward employers will need to monitor their account information online through the Departments website.
Employers should be carefully monitoring their Notice of Experience Rating Charges to ensure all of the individuals who are collecting benefits are eligible to be doing so otherwise these charges could increase your UI rate in future years. If you see, for example, a current employee listed as collecting benefits, that may be a red flag. Employers can also advise employees to report any unusual documents or communications from the NYSDOL for claims they haven’t filed.
If you identify a fraudulent claim and report it, the state will audit it and then credit your account.
To review charges against your account, you will need to go to the Employer Services page of the DOL website to log in online or set up an account.
If you have an account, login and go to view my UI information page, select benefit charges where you will be able to select how you wish to view claimants who have charges either by month, quarter or year.
If you do not have an online account with NYS Department of Labor, you will need the following items to create an account:
You May Like: When Will I Get My Unemployment Taxes Back
Unemployment Insurance Benefits: Faq From The New York State Department Of Labor
The New York State Department of Labor has for those navigating the Unemployment Insurance program. Please read on for frequently asked questions:
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed a law that provides additional Unemployment Insurance assistance to workers impacted by COVID-19.
This new law provides:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Extended eligibility for individuals who have traditionally been ineligible for UI benefits
- Pandemic Unemployment Compensation An additional $600 per week, on top of regular benefits, to all UI recipients and,
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation An additional 13 weeks of UI benefits, beyond the regular 26 weeks already provided, for a total of 39 weeks of coverage.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Extended Eligibility for UI Benefits
QUESTION: Who is eligible for PUA?
ANSWER: Individuals are eligible for PUA if they do not qualify for regular UI benefits and cannot work because they:
Individuals are not eligible for PUA if they can telework or are receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits .
QUESTION: How do I apply for PUA?
ANSWER: You can file a PUA application online at labor.ny.gov. Please note, you cannot apply for PUA until you have been determined ineligible for UI benefits. You must apply for UI before you apply for PUA.
QUESTION: What is the maximum benefit I can receive from PUA?
QUESTION: Will I also receive the additional $600 per week for Pandemic Unemployment Compensation?
New Yorks Trust Fund Is Chronically Insolvent
The COVID-19 labor shock was unprecedented in timing and size, and New York was among the earliest and hardest hit states, both in public health and economic impact. At the onset of the pandemic the national labor market declined 14 percent, while New York lost 20 percent of its jobs.12 Few states would be prepared to handle such sudden and drastic labor market upheaval as in NY.
Even before the historic COVID shock, New York struggled for decades to build up a sufficient balance in its Trust Fund. The State has not met USDOLs standard for solvency since 1974 and has borrowed from the federal government to meet UI claims during every recent recession.13
During the Great Recession, for example, New York began borrowing from the federal government to pay UI claims in 2008, and New Yorks debt grew to roughly $4 billion by 2012the highest level in history at the time.14 As a result, State tax rates increased to their highest range, and federal tax rates increased as New York received four FUTA tax credit reductions until the debt was fully paid off in 2015.
In 2013, following the Great Recession, the State enacted changes to the UI tax rate schedules and a gradual increase in the taxable UI wage base to build a greater Trust Fund balance for future economic downturns.15
You May Like: How To Sign Up For Unemployment In Tn
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.
After You Have Registered
- We assign each liable employer an eight-digit employer registration number. Please use your registration number on all correspondence, quarterly returns and payments that you send to us.
- If you are liable for Unemployment Insurance, you must electronically submit a Quarterly Combined Withholding, Wage Reporting and Unemployment Insurance Return . File the NYS-45 online by visiting the Department of Taxation and Finance website. For more information, call 899-8810.
- You will receive a poster Notice to Employees that tells your employees their jobs may be covered for unemployment insurance. You must display the poster at each of your business locations, where your employees can easily see it. Call 899-8810 for more copies.
You May Like: How To Sign Up For Unemployment In Ky
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
New York May Not Repay Its Ui Debt Until 2027 Being Potentially In Debt At The Start Of The Next Recession
New Yorks UI Trust Fund likely will return to a positive balance in 2027, based on CBCs analysis of past average UI tax rates and benefit payments, coupled with projected employment and personal income growth.21 Since New York States average economic expansion has been just under six years since 1975, the State may well enter the next recession with either a negative or low balance in its Trust Fund. This would lead to another cycle of borrowing from the federal government to meet rising UI claims.22
Don’t Miss: What Does Next Payable Week Mean Nj Unemployment
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
