April 22, 2020
No items found.

NYS Unemployment Application Update

As promised, we have been following updates to the New York State Unemployment Insurance system as department officials try to keep up with the staggering number of claims being filed as the lockdown persists. After an avalanche of complaints regarding technical issues and the inability to reach representatives to complete Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) applications, the state has rolled out a new, streamlined application process for those eligible for PUA.

Now, applicants who are eligible for PUA no longer have to go through the federally-mandated process of first applying for traditional unemployment insurance, just so they can wait to be rejected and then apply for PUA. Instead, you should go to the application site, here and follow the instructions. You still need to create a ny.gov id, and unfortunately, undocumented workers remain barred from accessing these funds.

An important note: if you have already filed for UI or the PUA before it was updated, do not start a new application.

If you have any questions about the status of your application or other information, you should contact the DOL, which has hired 3,100 additional representatives to address the caseload.

You can check out our previous blog post on applying for unemployment benefits here.

white line

What NYC Employers and Employees Need to Know About New York’s Prenatal Leave Law

July 30, 2025
Leave
Pregnancy Discrimination
New York City implemented new guidelines clarifying how pregnant employees can access this first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave entitlement.

Meet Berke-Weiss Law's 2025 Summer Law Clerks

June 17, 2025
No items found.
2025 Summer Law Clerks have started their summer intership with the Berke-Weiss Law team!

The Supreme Court Opinion in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services and its Impact on Title VII Discrimination Suits

June 10, 2025
Gender Discrimination
Race Discrimination
A recent Supreme Court decision could have an impact on future Title VII Discrimination Suits.

Get In Touch

Knowing where to turn in legal matters can make a big difference. Contact our employment lawyers to determine if we can help you.