Applying for New York State Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Unemployment insurance benefits can help if you lose your job and you qualify.

In New York State:

Employers pay for these benefits, not workers.
No money is taken from your paycheck for this.
The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) runs the program.

How much money can I get?

If you qualify, you can get:

Weekly payments for up to 26 weeks
During a one-year period

The Department of Labor decides if you qualify. To estimate your weekly benefits, use the DOL's online calculator.

How do I qualify for unemployment benefits?

You can get benefits if:

You lost your job through no fault of your own. This means you were not fired for doing something wrong or you quit but had a good reason
You worked in New York or another state and earned enough money
You're ready to start work right away
You're physically and mentally able to work
You're actively looking for work (You must keep a written record of your work search activities for each week you claim benefits)
You go to required meetings at your local Career Center

How much do I need to have earned?

When you file your claim, the state unemployment office checks if you have earned enough to qualify. It looks at your earnings from a “base period” which is usually the last 4 to 5 quarters (each quarter is 3-months). For example, if you file in April 2024, your base period would be January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023

For claims filed in 2024, you must have:

Worked in at least two of the past calendar quarters
Earned at least $3,300 in one of those quarters
Earned total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest-earning quarter

Don't worry about calculating this yourself. When you apply, the unemployment office will look at your work history and let you know if you qualify.

If you're not sure if you've earned enough, apply anyway. It's better to apply and find out you don't qualify than to miss out on benefits you deserve.

How do I keep getting benefits?

After you apply, you must:

Claim benefits each week
Confirm you were unemployed that week
Show you meet all the rules

This is called "certifying for benefits."

How do I apply?

You can apply online or by phone. Apply in the first week you're fully or partially unemployed to get all your benefits.

To apply online, visit the Department of Labor website.

To apply by phone, call 1-888-209-8124.

Important things to know about applying:

The first week is a "waiting week" and you won't get paid for it
If you qualify, you'll usually get your first payment in 2-3 weeks
You'll get back-pay for any weeks you're owed
You can get paid by direct deposit or bank debit card

Why do benefits get denied?

You might be denied if:

You're not ready, willing, and able to work
You quit your job without a good reason
You were fired for doing something wrong
You refuse to take a suitable job
You lost your job for committing a felony
You're in jail

If you lost your job due to a strike or lockout, you might still get benefits depending on the situation.

What if I get denied?

If the DOL says you can't get benefits:

You'll get a notice explaining why
You can ask for a hearing
Keep claiming weekly benefits while you wait for the hearing
You might get back-pay if you win your hearing

How do I ask for a hearing?

If you're denied benefits or told you have to pay back money:

Ask for a hearing in writing within 30 days
Follow any other directions that are on the notice you got denying you benefits

You can ask for a hearing online at the DOL website.

Or you can print a "Claimant Request for a Hearing" form and mail it to:

New York State Department of Labor

P.O. Box 15131

Albany, New York 12212-5131

(Include the last four digits of your Social Security number and why you disagree with the decision.)

Important things to know about the hearing:

Hearings might take a few weeks to schedule and your benefits might be delayed.
Your employer can also ask for a hearing if they think you don’t qualify.
The hearing might be in-person or by phone.
An administrative law judge will run it.
Make sure to go to all scheduled hearings.
You can bring a lawyer, but you don't have to.
If you can't afford a lawyer, you might be able to get free legal help. Visit LawHelp’s Legal Directory to find free legal help near you.

What if I get another job after applying for benefits?

You must report:

All jobs you have
Any businesses you own part of
Any activities that might make you money

This helps decide if you can get benefits and how much you'll get.

If you lie on your application or when claiming benefits, you could:

Face civil or criminal penalties
Pay fines
Go to prison

You can also get in trouble if you're not actively looking for work while getting benefits.

Where can I learn more?

Read the free Unemployment Claimant Handbook (available in many languages) and visit the DOL website.