Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

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If you are wondering, How can I sign up for unemployment in New York? there are plenty of steps that you can take. However, before starting the NY unemployment registration process, residents of the state must check to see if they qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. To file for an unemployment claim, claimants must fulfill certain conditions in their base period. The (basic or primary) base period encompasses the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before claimants file for unemployment.

The New York unemployment EDD application states that former employees must have earned wages for working in at least two-quarters of the base period. Additionally, claimants must have grossed at least $1,900 in one of those quarters, and their total wages must be 1.5 times their highest quarter earnings. For example, if an individual’s highest quarter earnings was $2,000, his or her total earnings within the base period must be at least $3,000 ($2,000 x 1.5).

New Yorkers who want to apply for unemployment benefits but do not meet the conditions above can still qualify under an alternate base period. The alternate base period encompasses the last four completed calendar quarters before claimants file for unemployment. Claimants who qualify under the basic base period may request that their benefits be calculated using the alternate base period if they believe it would result in a higher compensation rate. Claimants must ask for alternative calculation within 10 days of NY unemployment registration.

Claimants can be fully or partially unemployed. As long as an employee works less than four days and earns less than $405 a week, he or she may apply for unemployment benefits. Find out more about the NY unemployment EDD application process in the topics below:

  • How to prepare for New York unemployment registration
  • Where to register for unemployment benefits in New York
  • Where to sign up for unemployment services in New York after you apply

How to Prepare for New York Unemployment Registration

Before you apply for unemployment benefits, equip yourself with the necessary documents and items needed for the NY unemployment EDD application. Missing information may cause delays in receiving benefits. Identifying information needed to file for an unemployment claim includes the claimant’s Social Security Number, mailing address, daytime phone number, driver’s license or identification card number and/or alien registration card number (for non-citizens).

The New York unemployment EDD application also asks for the names and addresses of all your former employers within the last 18 months. For a claimant’s most recent employer, unemployment registration requires the Employer Registration Number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), which can be found on W-2 forms. Military personnel and federal employees who apply for unemployment benefits in NY will also need the forms DD 214 or SF8 and SF50, respectively.

Where to Register for Unemployment Benefits in New York

Unemployed workers have two options regarding where to apply for unemployment: by phone or online. The online application for unemployment is the fastest way to file for an unemployment claim in New York. Those who know how to apply for unemployment online can also take advantage of the other online employment services offered by the Department of Labor. The website allows users to file for an unemployment claim, claim weekly benefits, view payment history, add/remove tax withholding, modify direct deposit information and print 1099-G forms. To start the online application for unemployment, first, create an account on the state’s website. The claimant’s name, birth date and Social Security Number, as well as a confirmed email address, are all one needs to establish an account. Users can then click on the section for unemployment services to start the online application for unemployment in New York. The Department of Labor specifies times when claimants can apply for unemployment benefits online. You may file your claim online at these times:

  • Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST
  • Weekends from Saturday at 12:01 a.m. until Sunday at 7 p.m. EST

Those who wish to apply for unemployment benefits in a language other than English or Spanish may use the translation services offered at the telephone claim center. Applicants can file for unemployment in NY Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Using the keypad, individuals can choose any of the following languages:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Russian
  • Cantonese
  • Mandarin
  • Creole
  • Korean
  • Polish
  • All other languages

Also, the New York Department of Labor offers TeleTypewriter for the hearing impaired.

Where to Sign up for Unemployment Services in New York After You Apply

Part of maintaining eligibility for unemployment insurance is looking for work. After claimants file for unemployment in New York, they must maintain a record of their efforts to gain employment. The Department of Labor requires claimants to search for suitable work similar to all recent occupations. Claimants who do not actively seek work or who turn down employment will lose their unemployment compensation. The state offers helpful employment services like One-Stop Career Centers and JobZone. JobZone is available within the online account services. Not only does it allocate users to explore potential job opportunities, but it also assists in creating resumes and keeping track of the required work search.

Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide