New York Unemployment Insurance

What You Need To Know?

The New York Unemployment Insurance program assists the unemployed workers by supporting them financially on temporary basis. It must be noted that only those are eligible for the program that lost their jobs not by their own fault but by an unfortunate condition resulting in their unemployment.

In order to avail maximum benefits the applicants must be willing to work and co-operate with the state department. They must also be actively searching for job at the same time while receiving benefits. The New York Department of Labor is the state agency which operates the program and deals with unemployment insurance claims of citizens. They ensure the availability monetary benefits, provide job and workforce training, and job search and other related services to unemployed work force.

The unemployment insurance program is not a public benefit program as it’s not funded federally or by state but the funds come from the taxes employer must pay. No deductions are made from the paycheck of a worker.

Only those claimants can apply for the program that have earned enough wages in a prescribed period of time and must be working in New York State since last 18 months.

If you are out of work in New York for a non-disqualifying reason, you may enroll yourself in the program. The New York State Department of Labor determines the time period and level of benefit you might receive. It determines your unemployment benefits by first looking at your earnings in ‘basic base period’ or ‘alternate base period,’ which may allow you to  receive greater allowances. The basic base period is earliest four of the last five complete quarters of the year before you applied for claim and Alternate base period is the last four complete calendar quarters.

The ultimate purpose of the program is to provide assistance to unemployed citizen for a temporary period of time along with training them until they are employed.

Administration

The New York Unemployment Insurance Program is administered by New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). The program is also operated by Employment and Training Administration (ETA).

Are You Eligible?

The NYSDOL consider various factor in order to determine your eligibility for enrollment in the insurance program and level of benefit along with time period such as:

• Past earnings-in order to collect unemployment insurance, you must have earned wages in at least two of the four calendar quarters that make up the base period. If you have been out of work for a longer period of time you wouldn’t be considered.
• Reasons for unemployment – in order to collect unemployment insurance, you must be out of work through no fault of your own. If you are disqualified from your previous job due to some fault of yours you may not be able to apply for the benefit program until you have worked again and earned at least ten times your weekly benefit rate.
• Availability and capability– in order to continue receiving benefit u=you must be willing to work and search actively for a job. In case you decline a job offer for any unnecessary reason, you would get disqualified from the program.

How To Apply?

Applicants seeking New York Unemployment Insurance program 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 application within one week of losing your job in order to get maximum benefits.

While applying for the benefit program you must carry the following information and documents;

• Social Security Number
• Driver’s 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 (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• Names and addresses for all employers for the past 18 months (even if out of state)
• Employer registration number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of your latest employer (this is available on your last W-2 form)
• 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

You also need to provide a reason on which your application would be approved or denied.

 For Further Information?

For further details and queries, you may contact at 1-877-358-5306  if you are residing out of state.

If you want to establish your unemployment insurance claim, kindly visit, https://ui.labor.state.ny.us/UBC/index.jsp

You may also visit the online website for inquiries- https://www.labor.ny.gov/home/

If you have questions, please call the Telephone Claims Center at:
1-888-209-8124

Also Read: Connecticut Supported Employment Program