Information on Expanded Unemployment Benefits

There are expanded unemployment benefits available to workers who are out of work due to COVID-19. On March 27th, Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus package, the third in a series of legislative packages responding to the COVID-19 crisis. This 

 sheet from the NYS Department of Labor is a good overview of the expanded benefits, who's eligible and what the benefits are.

The legislation does a number of things, including creating a new federal program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), designed to address the special problems for workers created by the Covid-19 crisis.

We have spoken to the Workers Defense League, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping workers with unemployment claims. They've agreed to help our members who have questions about how to complete the on-line unemployment application. They can't help get you get onto the system if it is overloaded, but they can help you if you have questions about how to complete the application.

New York State has waived the seven-day waiting period for people who are out of work due to COVID-19 closures or quarantines. If you've worked at all since the beginning of 2019 and have not applied for unemployment benefits yet you should do so now. It's better to apply and let the Department of Labor determine your eligibility.  You can apply for benefits here. Click "File a Claim>File Now" on the left-hand side and create a NY.gov account. When you reach the question "Why did you stop working at your last job?" you should choose the "lack of work" option.
The Department of Labor has had trouble processing the number of claims being filed. In response they put out the guidelines below about when people should file, based on the first letter of your last name. If you can't get into the system, keep trying. If you are in the system, and have questions about how to complete the form, you can call the Workers Defense League at 212-627-1931 and leave a message with your phone number. They will call you back.

When to file

If you are filing a new unemployment insurance claim, the day you should file is based on the first letter of your last name. If your last name starts with A - F, file your claim on Monday. For last names starting with G - N, file your claim on Tuesday. For last names starting with O - Z, file your claim on Wednesday. If you missed your filing day, file your claim on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Filing later in the week will not delay your payments or affect the date of your claim, since all claims are effective on the Monday of the week in which they are filed.

Things you need to file your claim

Your Social Security number
Your driver license or Motor Vehicle ID card number (if you have either one)
Your complete mailing address and zip code
A phone number where we can reach you from 8 am - 5 pm, Monday –Friday
Your Alien Registration card number (if you are not a U.S. Citizen and have a card)
Names and addresses of all your employers for the last 18 months, including those in other states.
Employer Registration number or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of your most recent employer (FEIN is on your W-2 forms)
You can file a claim without all of these documents. However, missing information can delay your first payment.
If you cannot print web pages, have a pen and paper to copy information.

If you choose direct deposit of your weekly benefits, you need a check that has your bank routing and checking account numbers.