Get Unemployment Assistance

Unemployment Insurance is temporary income for eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Apply the first week that you lose your job.

If you are eligible, you will be paid for all benefits from that date forward. You must certify your eligibility for benefits weekly online or over the phone to receive benefits.

Eligibility

Eligibility

To qualify for Unemployment Insurance benefits, you must have worked and earned enough wages in covered employment. In New York State, employers pay contributions that fund Unemployment Insurance.

By law, the unemployment insurance program provides benefits to people who:

• Have enough 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

If you worked in New York State within the last 18 months, you have the right to apply for benefits. We encourage you to apply even if you are uncertain. Apply even if a former employer told you that you would not be eligible or that you were not ‘covered.’ The department will make an independent assessment of your eligibility.

You must meet the qualifying conditions set by law to qualify for benefits. (See list above.)
We can only determine your eligibility to benefits after you apply and we have all the required information.

You may be eligible for benefits if:

• You lost your job due to lack of work
• The temporary or seasonal employment ended
• Your job was eliminated
• There was an involuntary reduction in force
• The company downsized or shut down
• The company restructured or reorganized
• There was a lack of company operating funds/orders
• You were out of work for any other business reason that you did not choose or control
• Your employer discharged or fired you because you could not meet their performance or production standards, or their qualifications for the job

You may be denied benefits if you:

• Were fired because you violated a company policy, rule or procedure, such as absenteeism or insubordination
• Quit your job without good cause, such as a compelling personal reason
• Are out of work because of a work stoppage (except for lockouts) in the last 14 days that violated an existing collective bargaining agreement where you worked. (You need not actually take part in the strike, only be out of work because of it.)

Estimate your weekly benefit amount with our benefit calculator.

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