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Cash & Expenses

New Payments for eligible unemployed adults

NYS Unemployment Insurance | NYS Department of Labor

1. How it Works

If you lost your job and it was not your fault, you might be able to get Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments. People approved for UI may be eligible for temporary larger payments.

  • Update: All eligible recipients of any unemployment will get an extra $300 per week for 11 weeks, from the week of December 26, 2020 through March 14, 2021. The payments are available through Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
  • Unemployment Insurance (UI): If you worked in New York State within the last 18 months, you can file a claim for UI. You can claim your benefits weekly for up to 26 weeks while you are unemployed.
    • A typical range of weekly UI benefits, depending on past wages, is about $100-$500 per week
    • You may be eligible for up to 20 more weeks of payments through the Extended Benefits (EB) program
    • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Update: If enrolled by March 14, 2021, you may be eligible for up to 24 more weeks of payments, or through April 5, 2021, whichever comes first, after you exhaust UI or PUA
    • Immigrants must have been legally working when they lost their job, and must be currently legally allowed to work when they apply for UI
    • If you’re already receiving UI, you do not need to take any action other than continuing weekly certification
    • If you made more than $5,000 of self-employment or independent contractor income in 2019 (1099) in addition to wage income (W2) and are ineligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), you may be eligible for an additional $100 per week through March 14, 2021 in addition to the additional $300 per week through FPUC
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): For people who have traditionally been ineligible for regular UI, including part-time workers, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those without recent work history.
    • Update: If enrolled by March 14, 2021, you may be eligible for up to a total of 57 weeks of payments, or through April 5, 2021, whichever comes first
    • Payment is based on recent earnings
    • The usual one-week waiting period for benefits is waived
    • Benefits can be paid retroactively for periods of unemployment, beginning on or after January 27, 2020
  • All unemployment benefits are taxable and considered income for Federal tax returns.

Next section:

2. Determine Your Eligibility

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2. Determine your eligibility

You may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) if you:

  • lost your job through no fault of your own (for example, you got laid off)
  • worked within the last 18 months and are you ready, willing, and able to work immediately
  • are actively seeking work and keep a record (online or written) of your efforts
  • you have enough income from your most recent work to establish a claim
  • are an immigrant authorized to work in the US and were authorized to work when you lost the job

You may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), if you:

  • Are self-employed, work part-time, or are a freelance worker, gig worker, or worker with limited work history
  • Do not qualify for regular UI benefits and cannot work because you
    • are diagnosed COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms and are seeking diagnosis
    • have a member of the household who is diagnosed with COVID-19
    • are providing care for a family or household member diagnosed with COVID-19
    • are the primary caregiver for a child whose school or care facility closed due to COVID-19
    • can’t reach your workplace due to an imposed quarantine, or because you have been advised by medical provider to self-quarantine, due to COVID-19
    • were scheduled to start new work and do not have a job or cannot reach the workplace as a direct result of COVID-19
    • became the main earner because the head of household died from COVID-19
    • had to quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19
    • had your workplace close as a direct result of COVID-19; or
    • meet any additional criteria specified by US Secretary of Labor

You are not eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) if you:

  • Can telework or are receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits (regardless of meeting a category listed above)
  • Are being paid to work remotely
  • Are an immigrant worker who is not authorized to work in the US
  • Are working on a visa, including an H-1B, and your visa is expired

To learn more, visit the COVID-19 Scenarios sheet.

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

Next section:

3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

These are documents you need to apply:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your driver license or Motor Vehicle ID card number (if you have either one)
  • Your complete mailing address and zip code
  • A phone number where Department of Labor  (DOL) can reach you from 8am–5pm, Monday–Friday
  • Your Alien Registration card number (if you are not a US Citizen and have a card)
  • Names and addresses of all your employers for the last 18 months, including those in other states
  • Employer Registration number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of your most recent employer, listed on your W-2 forms (don’t worry if you don’t have this)

Next section:

4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

Apply online

Apply online

  • You can file for Unemployment Insurance (UI) online.
  • The Department of Labor will review your claim for UI benefits and decide if you qualify.

Apply Online

Apply by phone

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

More ways to get help with this program

Visit the website

Visit the NYS Unemployment Insurance website for more information.

Immigrants can make an appointment with ActionNYC to receive assistance.

Email the NYS Department of Labor

Email NYS unemployment to get more information.

Call 311

Ask for New York State Unemployment Insurance assistance.

Call NYS Unemployment

If you have to call the telephone claims center regarding your claim, call 888-209-8124 during the hours of operation:

  • Monday through Friday, 8 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 am to 8:00 pm

If you need interpretation services, call Telephone Claims Center at 888-209-8124 and select your language.

If you are hearing impaired, have your helper call the Telephone Claims Center at 888-783-1370.

For TTY/TDD, call a relay operator first at 800-662-1220, and ask the operator to call the Telephone Claims Center at 888-783-1370 for you.

Last Updated Tuesday, January 19th, 9:39am

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