Long Island News Post Published on April, 13th 2020
How to Sign up for New York State Unemployment Due To COVID-19
As you may know, the unemployment rate in the New York Area has skyrocketed due to COVID-19. The result of all non-essential businesses being required to for a prolonged period of time has led to a number of people getting laid off unexpectedly and in need of unemployment benefits from the government.
As the number of COVID-19 Cases increase town by town throughout Long Island, so does the unemployment rate in the area. In fact, the amount of unemployment claims has been so high that New York State has worked with Google to redesign the entire unemployment piece of the website to allow for an easier and more transparent user experience.
I Got Laid Off From a Long Island Business, What Should I Do Now?
If you have unfortunately been laid off in the recent weeks due to COVID-19, you are not alone. More than 6.6 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the last week bringing the total number to over 16 million in just three weeks. If you have been recently laid off, filing for unemployment may be a good decision during this time, as many businesses are still closed due to the Pandemic so it may be difficult to find a new job. In addition, the Federal Government will be providing an extra $600 stimulus to those on unemployment.
Because of the sheer volume of people who have recently filed for unemployment, the system has all kinds of issues as of late. There have been multiple reports of issues when trying to file for unemployment, make a claim, or receiving a payment. We will guide you through the unemployment filing process to make it as smooth as possible.
How to File For NY Unemployment Benefits
The most efficient way to file for unemployment is to do so online, as it will avoid the currently long wait times for a phone representative. Begin the process here on the NY Department of Labor Website to be guided on how to file for NY unemployment benefits.
When you are initially filing you will be asked various questions about your previous employer and the circumstances that led you to having to file for unemployment. If you are seeking employment due to the COVID-19 virus, be sure to check the box that asks to be eligible to receive the unemployment stimulus bonus After you file for benefits, you will need to make a weekly claim. To do this you must wait until the week after you have initially filed for unemployment benefits.
Health Insurance Options For Those Unemployed
New York State generously offers health insurance options for those who are unemployed. If this applies to you, then you have a couple options. One of these is the COBRA policy, which allows you to exercise your right to continue your group health insurance plan if your group has under 20 employees. This option requires you to pay the full cost of the coverage including the portion previously paid by your employer. Your employer should let you know If you are eligible for the COBRA policy upon the completion of your employment. If you have any questions contact your employer or a New York State Representative at 1-800-342-3736.
Another option is to seek unemployment healthcare options through the NY State of Health. The NY State of Health can provide you and your family with many low cost quality health insurance options available through NY State of Health. There is also a possibility you may qualify for free or low-cost coverage from Medicaid or Child Health Plus. Call 1-855-355-5777 to learn more about the NY State of Health or apply.
Questions about these options? Find out more information here.
New York State Unemployment After COVID-19
Many people expect the economy to have a huge upswing when businesses and restaurants are permitted to reopen. As a result, many organizations will likely be hiring again and we should see a drop in the unemployment rates throughout Long Island Towns as people return to work and businesses start to generate revenue again.
However, many people are expecting unemployment numbers to remain higher than usual after these unprecedented times because many businesses have been able to accomplish the same amount of work with less of a workforce because of the use of technology. This applies more to some industries more than others, so it is important to take this time to evaluate how difficult it will be to find work and plan ahead for after the COVID-19 Social Distancing period ends.
Long Island News Post Updated April 13th, 2020
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