NYS Unemployment Insurance

The state of New York provides unemployment insurance benefits for certain individuals who have lost their primary employment. New York state (“NYS”) unemployment insurance is considered a temporary source of income for individuals who: (1) are eligible workers, (2) who lost their jobs, (3) and the loss of employment was not caused by the worker. NYS unemployment insurance benefits are only paid individuals are able to return to work and should not be considered a form of disability payment. To be considered an eligible worker you must have been employed within the state of New York within the last 18 months. Additionally, your considered to of lost your job through no fault of your own if you meet any of the following criteria:

•  Your job was eliminated
•  Your former employer downsized or closed its doors altogether
•  Your employment was seasonal or temporary and has now ended
•  You were fired from your job because you no longer met the employer’s qualifications, performance requirements or standards of production

However, if you’ve lost your job for any of the following reasons you will be considered to of been the cause of why you are now unemployed:

• You willingly quit your job without any significant or substantial basis for doing so
• You are fired for insubordination, failure to show up at work as required, or for violating one or more company policies

Time the Filing of Your NYS Unemployment Insurance Claim Properly

It is important to properly time the filing of your NYS unemployment insurance claim. You should file your claim during your first full week of unemployment. Keep in mind that “unemployment” in New York State also includes being partially employed so long as you do not work four or more days per week or earn more than $405 in gross pay in a given week. The longer you wait to file for your unemployment claim the less money you will receive in unemployment benefits.

Applying For Benefits

To begin the unemployment insurance application process it is best to file through the New York Department of Labor’s website. You may only apply between the hours of 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM Monday through Thursday or 7:30 AM to 5 PM on Friday. During the weekend you may apply at any time on Saturday and all day on Sundays until 7 PM. If you prefer, you may also call the Department of Labor and file an unemployment claim over the telephone. When you apply for unemployment benefits be sure to have the following information available:

•  Full legal name
• Mailing address
• Current daytime phone number
• Social Security number
• An Alien Registration card number (if applicable)
• Any DD214 military service separation form (if applicable)
• Banking account and routing numbers (for payment deposits)

The Amount of Payments You Will Receive

The amount of unemployment benefits a successful applicant receives is based upon the amount of money you earn in your previous appointment. New York State finds the calendar quarter wages that were the highest in the previous year your appointment and makes that you were “base benefit rate.” See the New York Department of Labor’s website for more information on the amount of benefits you receive once you have successfully applied for unemployment insurance.