Accessing Services: Applying for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

The economic downturn has forced many New Yorkers to look for new jobs and the unemployment rate is now at 7.4 percent. That reflects the highest level in nearly five years, and some forecast unemployment getting worse before it gets better. Fortunately, New York State provides an unemployment insurance program, a program intended to buttress city-administered services like Food Stamps, Cash Assistance and one-time emergency grants for extra help.

What You Should Know

Unemployment benefits are administered by the State Department of Labor (DOL). 
New York City provides information about the program here. According to DOL, "the unemployment insurance program provides benefits to individuals who have sufficient employment to establish a claim, have lost employment through no fault of their own, are ready, willing and able to work and are actively seeking work."

How to File a Claim

You can file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits if you have worked in New York State within the last 18 months, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions. Visit the DOL’s Before You Apply For Unemployment: Frequently Asked Questions website to determine whether you qualify because not all employment qualifies for benefits. For example, if you quit your job or were fired for such things as excessive absenteeism or insubordination, you may not qualify for unemployment insurance. There is detailed information online about filing unemployment insurance claims electronically.

• By Phone: To apply for benefits, contact DOL's Telephone Claims Center toll-free at 1-888-209–8124. This service is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Online: You may apply for benefits online by going here. Note that the hours of operation for applying for UI benefits using the Benefits Online Page are 7:30am to 7:30pm Monday through Thursday, 7:30am to 5:00pm Friday, all day Saturday, and Sunday until 7:00pm. Access NYC provides basic information about applying for unemployment benefits here. You also may click here for a link to the DOL’s How to Apply website.

When Should I File A Claim?

According to DOL, your claim should be filed in the first week that you have become unemployed. “Your first week is an unpaid waiting week is commonly referred to as the “waiting period”. A delay may cost you benefits."  DOL also provides an on line list of what information you should have available when you apply, including, for example, "the names and addresses of all employers for whom you've worked within the last 18 months, including those employers in another state."

Other Information

• DOL expects that an additional 13 weeks of federally-funded emergency benefits or Emergency Unemployment Compensation will be available February 22, 2009.

• Don't be tricked into paying for help in filing for unemployment insurance. Some organizations claim to be affiliated with DOL that they can help speed claims, but this is not the case. DOL clearly states that "[t]he State Labor Department does not want our customers to be fooled by these claims … using a paid service to file your claim will not ensure faster handling."

• Many of your questions may be answered on line on DOL's Before You Apply for Unemployment: Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you're having trouble with your unemployment insurance claim, please call my office at 212-669-7250.

Comments

[ani]

Thanks , i got all that things that i want

[Melissa]

Is anyone else having difficulty contacting the Unemployment Insurance Telephone Claims Centers (TCC)? I've tried calling repeatedly, but keep getting a busy signal. Same thing happens when I call the self-service system. (TEL-SERVICE) No recording, just a busy signal.

I'm trying to verify that my information was received through the UI website. I have just completed my one week waiting period, and am trying to claim credit for it. When I clicked on "claim weekly benefits," I was never guided through the series of questions regarding my eligibility, nor did I receive any confirmation that my request was even processed. (I'm using Internet Explorer 6, so my browser shouldn't be an issue.) I clicked "claim weekly benefits" a second time, and again, no confirmation whatsoever. How do I find out if my information was even received?

[Karen]

I have not been able to connect with them for over a week now. I initally filed online, received my statment of monetary benefit determination, but have been unable to claim my weekly benefits, via telephone, which they seem to require. I've gotten messages that my social security number is not valid, busy signals and complete disconnections. I am completely frustrated. There is no way to even communicate with them online at this point.

Anyone else have this problem?? Help!