While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on New York’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account or on a debit card.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in New York, you must:
Learn more about New York’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements here by scrolling down to “Eligibility.”
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in New York, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
You must apply on your designated day, which depends on the first letter of your last name. Use the chart below to determine which day you should file.
| If Your Last Name Starts With… | Apply on This Day |
|---|---|
| A – F | Monday |
| G – N | Tuesday |
| O – Z | Wednesday |
If you miss your day, you can apply on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access New York’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call (888) 209-8124, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM ET and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
This is also the phone number to contact the New York Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation line if you have questions about the application process or require assistance.
The New York Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person, but you can obtain help at a Career Center. Click here to find your nearest office location.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you worked for in New York. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the New York Department of Labor will look at your wages in your base period.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in New York is $104. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $504.
Learn more about New York’s base period and how benefits are calculated on page 9 of the handbook here. Estimate your weekly Unemployment Insurance Benefits with the rate calculator here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
Learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
File your Weekly Certification Application here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal letter to the Department of Labor:
NYS Department of Labor
P.O. Box 15131
Albany, NY 12212-5131
You may not file an appeal in person or by phone. Appeals must be submitted in writing. Learn more about the appeals process here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the New York Department of Labor at (888) 209-8124.
The New York DOL Telephone Claims Center (TCC) is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM ET and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
You can also visit or call a local Career Center for further assistance. Find your nearest office location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
If you have general questions about New York Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the New York Department of Labor (DOL) customer service center at (888) 209-8124.
The New York DOL Telephone Claims Center (TCC) is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM ET and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
You can also visit the Department of Labor’s physical address at:
NYS Department of Labor
Building 12
W.A. Harriman Campus
Albany, NY 12240
Or, you can send mail to the DOL at:
NYS Department of Labor
P.O. Box 15130
Albany, NY 12240
If you have questions about appeals, call the Unemployment Hearings and Appeals Division at (855) 528-5618, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM ET. Or, learn about the appeals process here.
New York has several Career Centers you can contact. Find your nearest local office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number on the New York DOL Career Center Locator page here.
To find more information on New York Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
If you have a question about New York Employer Unemployment Insurance:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in New York, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
You must apply on your designated day, which depends on the first letter of your last name. Use the chart below to determine which day you should file.
If Your Last Name Starts With…Apply on This Day
| If Your Last Name Starts With… | Apply on This Day |
|---|---|
| A – F | Monday |
| G – N | Tuesday |
| O – Z | Wednesday |
If you miss your day, you can apply on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access New York’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment insurance by phone, call (888) 209-8124, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM ET and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
This is also the phone number to contact the New York Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation line if you have questions about the application process or require assistance.
The New York Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person, but you can obtain help at a Career Center. Click here to find your nearest office location.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the New York claimant portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the New York Department of Labor’s customer service line at (888) 209-8124, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM ET and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal letter to the Department of Labor:
NYS Department of Labor
P.O. Box 15131
Albany, NY 12212-5131
You may not file an appeal in person or by phone. Appeals must be submitted in writing. Learn more about the appeals process here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the New York Department of Labor at (888) 209-8124.
The New York DOL Telephone Claims Center (TCC) is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 7:30 PM ET and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM ET, except for the observed holidays here.
You can also visit or call a local Career Center for further assistance. Find your nearest office location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
