When you lose your job, you may qualify for Unemployment Insurance benefits. These benefits give you temporary income while you look for new work.
Employers pay for Unemployment Insurance. It does not come out of your paycheck. The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) runs the program.
How to qualify
You may qualify for Unemployment Insurance if you:
- Lost your job through no fault of your own. This means you were not fired for doing something wrong or you quit but had a good reason.
- Earned enough money in the last year and a half
- Are ready, willing, and able to work
- Are actively looking for work and can show proof
- Go to required appointments at your local Career Center (you will get a letter with an appointment date, time and location)
How to apply
If you recently lost your job, apply right away. Apply even if you’re not sure you qualify.
Before you apply, have ready:
- Your Social Security number
- Your driver’s license or Motor Vehicle ID (if you have one)
- Your mailing address and phone number
- Names and addresses of all employers from the last 18 months
- Your employer’s Federal Employer ID (FEIN) — it’s on your W-2
- Any forms from federal or military work (SF8, SF50, DD-214)
- Your bank routing and account numbers, if you want to get paid via direct deposit and are applying online. (You can’t choose direct deposit if filing by phone.)
To apply:
- Visit dol.ny.gov/unemployment/file-your-first-claim-benefits, or
- Call 1-888-209-8124
What happens after I apply
The first week after you file is a waiting week, without benefits.
If DOL approves your unemployment benefits
Payments usually start 2–3 weeks after you apply. You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks within a one-year period.
You must certify every week to show that you still qualify for benefits. See "Keeping Your Benefits" below.
If DOL denies your unemployment benefits
You’ll get a letter explaining why. You can ask for a hearing within 30 days, online or by mail. While you wait, keep doing your weekly certification for benefits. See "Keeping Your Benefits" below. If you win at the hearing, you’ll get back pay for the weeks you certified.
You can bring a lawyer to the hearing, but it’s not required. If you can’t afford one, look for free help through LawHelpNY’s Legal Directory. Learn more about representing yourself at an unemployment insurance hearing.
Keeping your benefits
Once you apply, you have to confirm every week that you still qualify for unemployment benefits. This weekly report is called “certifying for benefits.”
How to certify:
- You can certify online or by phone: 1-888-581-5812.
- Certify at the end of every week. The benefit week ends on Sunday. You can file any time from that Sunday through the next Saturday.
- Keep a written record of your job search (dates, applications, interviews). The DOL can delay or deny your benefits if you don't have a written record or you don't keep searching for a job.
You might have to report to a Career Center. If that happens, you’ll get a letter with the date, time, and location. If you can’t make the appointment because you’re working or have another conflict, call the Career Center right away to reschedule. If you have to leave a voicemail, they should call you back within 24 hours. If they don’t, send them a message through your online account.
If you get another job
You must report:
- All jobs you have
- Any businesses you own part of
- Any activities that might make you money
The DOL uses the information to decide if you can keep getting benefits and how much you'll get.
Don’t lie or hide information when you apply or certify for benefits. If you do, you could be forced to repay what you got, lose future benefits, have your tax refunds taken, or face criminal charges.
Where to learn more
- Watch: Legal Aid Society video on unemployment eligibility (YouTube)
- Read: New York State Unemployment Insurance Handbook
- Apply online: File your claim
- Estimate benefits: Weekly Benefit Calculator
Last Reviewed: November 20, 2025