How does NYS Unemployment Insurance work?

Update : On September 5, 2021 these federal unemployment programs expired: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Extended Benefits (EB) $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) $100 Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) Learn more from NY State Department of Labor 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. Requires a valid Social Security Number and government-issued ID card. Although all unemployment benefits are taxable and considered income for Federal tax returns, you do not need to pay federal taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits if you earned less than $150,000 as an individual in 2020. you will still have to pay state and city taxes on your benefits because New York State and City measures income separately from the federal government.

Am I eligible for NYS Unemployment Insurance?

You may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI), 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 authorized to work in the US and were authorized to work when you lost your job

What do I need in order to apply to NYS Unemployment Insurance?

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 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)

How do I Apply to NYS Unemployment Insurance?

The easiest way to apply for unemployment benefits is online. Visit the Department of Labor’s website to apply and file a claim for UI. For help with issues related to your NY.gov account, such as difficulty logging in, changing your personal information or resetting your password, call 800-833-3000 . After you apply, you’ll need to continue certifying for benefits every week at labor.ny.gov/signin Sign in and click the “Unemployment Services” button. Then click the “Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here” button. Follow all instructions on the next screen. The Department of Labor will review your claim for UI benefits and decide if you qualify. To file a claim through phone: Call 888-209-8124 to file a new claim or speak to an agent about a claim: Monday through Friday, 8:00am–7:30pm. Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 am–8:00pm Interpretation services are available. 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. After filing a claim, you will need to certify your benefits every week . To certify for UI benefits, call 888-581-5812

NYS Unemployment Insurance

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. UI will give you some money based on what you earned. You must be looking for a new job to get UI.

Update: On September 5, 2021 these federal unemployment programs expired:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
- Extended Benefits (EB)
- $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
- $100 Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)
- Learn more from NY State Department of Labor
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.
- Requires a valid Social Security Number and government-issued ID card.
Although all unemployment benefits are taxable and considered income for Federal tax returns,
- you do not need to pay federal taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits if you earned less than $150,000 as an individual in 2020.
- you will still have to pay state and city taxes on your benefits because New York State and City measures income separately from the federal government.

Next section:

2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

You may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI), 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 authorized to work in the US and were authorized to work when you lost your job

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 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.

The easiest way to apply for unemployment benefits is online.

Visit the Department of Labor’s website to apply and file a claim for UI.
- For help with issues related to your NY.gov account, such as difficulty logging in, changing your personal information or resetting your password, call 800-833-3000.
After you apply, you’ll need to continue certifying for benefits every week at labor.ny.gov/signin
- Sign in and click the “Unemployment Services” button.
- Then click the “Certify to Claim Your Weekly Benefits Here” button. Follow all instructions on the next screen.
The Department of Labor will review your claim for UI benefits and decide if you qualify.

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