My cousin had the same worry but her immigration lawyer told her to definitely file for unemployment since she earned it. She's been collecting for 4 months now with no immigration issues. Don't let fear keep you from getting benefits you're entitled to!

I completely understand your anxiety about this - it's such a scary situation when you're worried about your immigration status! But everyone here is absolutely right. I went through this exact same worry when I was laid off during my green card process. Unemployment insurance is NOT considered public charge because it's an earned benefit - you literally paid for this insurance through your payroll deductions. The USCIS policy manual specifically excludes unemployment compensation from public charge considerations. I collected UI for about 8 months and it had zero impact on my immigration case. Don't let fear prevent you from accessing benefits you earned and deserve! File your claim with NYS Department of Labor - you paid into this system and you're entitled to these benefits.

Just to add some specific numbers to help with your planning - you need to have earned at least $2,600 during your base period AND have worked in at least 2 different calendar quarters during that time. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest earning quarter, so having that restaurant job before your current position actually helps build up your wage history. If you do end up getting laid off due to budget cuts, that's considered an involuntary separation which means you should qualify as long as you meet the monetary requirements. Good luck!

I want to add one important thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you keep good records of all your employment, including pay stubs, W-2s, and any documentation from both your restaurant job and current position. When you file your claim, NYS DOL will verify your wages with your employers, but sometimes there can be delays or discrepancies. Having your own records helps speed up the process and ensures you get the correct benefit amount. Also, if you do get laid off, file your claim right away - benefits don't start until you actually file, even if you're eligible from your separation date.

btw i use freetaxusa instead of turbotax and it automatically knows the ein for unemployment in each state. saves time and its cheaper too

Just wanted to follow up and say HUGE thanks to everyone who helped! I was able to complete my tax filing using the EIN number 11-2868823 that several of you provided. TurboTax accepted it without any issues and my return has already been submitted. For anyone else running into this same problem - definitely check if your 1099-G form has the EIN in box 9 first, but if it's missing like mine was, you can safely use 11-2868823 for NY unemployment benefits. This community is a lifesaver! I was so stressed about missing the tax deadline but you all came through with the exact info I needed. Really appreciate how helpful everyone has been here.

Just wanted to add that you should register ASAP because some people have had their claims held up for not completing the work registration requirement on time. Better safe than sorry with NYS Department of Labor - they're pretty strict about following all the rules.

I went through this process a few months ago and want to add that the work registration on jobs.labor.ny.gov also requires you to upload a resume. Make sure your resume is in a common format like PDF or Word doc - I had issues with other formats being rejected. Also, once you're registered, you can actually use job applications through their portal as part of your required 3 weekly job search activities, so it does serve a dual purpose. The key is doing it within that first week like Rachel mentioned - NYS Department of Labor is really strict about the timeline.

I'm new to filing unemployment claims and this recall date question has been stressing me out too! Reading through everyone's responses is so helpful - it seems like the consensus is that if your employer didn't give you a specific return date when they laid you off, then leaving it blank is the right approach. I was laid off from my restaurant job in January and my manager just said "we're closing this location indefinitely" with no mention of any recall date. Based on what everyone is sharing here, I feel much more confident about leaving that field blank on my weekly certifications. It's such a relief to find this community where people share their actual experiences with the NYS Department of Labor system!

I went through this same confusion when I was first filing! The recall date field really threw me off too. What I learned is that if your employer didn't give you a specific date when they expect to call you back, then you simply don't have a recall date to enter. Since your employer laid you off in December without mentioning any specific return date, leaving it blank is absolutely the correct approach. I was worried about the same thing - making a mistake that would mess up my benefits - but the NYS Department of Labor system is designed to handle these situations where there genuinely is no recall date. You're being honest about your actual circumstances, which is exactly what they want. I've been filing weekly certifications for several months now with that field blank (similar permanent layoff situation) and have never had any issues with my claims.