To check on the status of your application, go to the unemployment website and click on ‘Unemployment Services‘.

If you see the message below, you likely need to call the DOL (1-888-209-8124) and provide some details in order to finalize your claim.

If you see the following screen, click on ‘View Payment History’.

If your Weekly Benefit Amount is not $0 then your application is most likely fully confirmed.

Note: The section for certifying your weekly benefits shows up each Sunday to allow you to certify your weekly benefits. The rest of the time you should still see the 2nd option of ‘View Payment History’.

After submitting the application, don’t expect a confirmation message from the DOL.

After you apply, the DOL decides your eligibility. This shouldn’t take more than a couple of days (used to take up to two weeks). If you think there may be an issue with your account, read ‘Troubleshooting Your Unemployment Application‘.

1. Approved for regular Unemployment (UI)
   In NY that’s between $104 – $504 a week. If you are only eligible for less than $104 a week, then you automatically get PUA at $182 a week instead. (Yup! If you are eligible for only $103 a week, you jump to $182 a week.)
2. Approved for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
   If you are approved for PUA, you automatically get $182 (up to $504 – depending on your prior income). See below for how to raise your rate if you’re on PUA.
3. Declined
   Nothing from state and nothing from federal. If you were declined from UI (regular Unemployment), you can then apply for PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance). In NY, if you used the new comprehensive application (Link #2), then the application automatically checks your eligibility for regular Unemployment and PUA and puts you on the correct program for you, so there is no need to apply for PUA. If, on the other hand, you applied using the old link or via phone and were declined from regular Unemployment, you can then apply for PUA.

$104 vs $504

If you have sufficient prior work earnings within the previous 18 months, then your weekly benefit amount will be approximately 50% of your prior weekly income up to a maximum of $504 a week (see the DOL’s calculator).

With regular Unemployment, the minimum they give is $104 a week. If, based on the 50% calculation you are eligible for less than $104, you cannot get regular Unemployment but are likely eligible for PUA with a weekly benefit amount of $182 (Yes! If you are eligible for $104, you get $104 whereas if you are only eligible for $103, you get moved to PUA and get $182 instead. Go figure.)

Bonuses

If you are approved for regular Unemployment or PUA, then you are automatically eligible to receive an additional $600 FPUC a week for 17 weeks between the week ending April 5 through July 26 and $300 LWA a week for the six weeks ending August 2 through September 6. For the $300 LWA, read ‘Certifying Lost Wages Assistance ($1,800) – NY‘

The $600 and $300  is all-or-nothing. In other words, if you are approved for any unemployment (regular or PUA), you automatically receive the $600 on top of whatever unemployment payments you are awarded. The extra $600 is called FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation). The extra $300 is called LWA (Lost Wages Assistance).

Why $182

In NY, PUA default is $182. This is based on the guidance from the federal government that PUA should be 50% of a state’s average unemployment payments. In NY the average unemployment payout is $364. 50% of $364 is $182. You could receive PUA of more than $182 as well – depending on your prior income.

Appeal

If you disagree with the DOL’s decision, you can appeal.

You can appeal if you were declined completely or if you were awarded less than expected for your weekly payment.

Your unemployment payments should be 50% of your prior earnings. If you are eligible for PUA, then the minimum weekly payment is $182 (even with no prior income) or more if your earnings were over $364 a week.

Read these articles to understand your options:

• ‘I think I should get more Unemployment‘

• ‘Difference Between Regular Unemployment and PUA – Why Less Than $182‘

• ‘Why am I getting only $182 a week?‘

In order to get any Unemployment payments, you need to certify your weeks. Read ‘Certifying Weekly Benefits‘ to see what to do.

Read ‘I heard I need to look for work while getting unemployment. Do I?‘ for information regarding searching for work while receiving unemployment.