New Yorkers receiving unemployment benefits should file or certify for the week ending November 1 before 5 p.m. Eastern on Monday, November 2, when the state will take its unemployment insurance system offline for an upgrade.
The Department of Labor issued a one-week reminder on October 26. It expects the transition to take nine to 12 calendar days. During that period, online and phone unemployment services will be unavailable and benefit payments will be delayed.
Before the system closes
The shutdown will prevent new claims, weekly certifications and access to or changes in account information. The state's claimant guidance asks customers to complete the November 1 week's filing or certification before the cutoff. Anyone who misses it will be able to backdate a claim in the new system.
In an October 7 WAMC interview, Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said the agency would spend the first three days of the transition processing claims received before the deadline, before migrating its records. She said existing customers would keep their usernames and passwords.
During and after the interruption
Work-search requirements continue while the system is closed. Claimants must complete and record at least three work-search activities each week unless they are exempt, the department says.
Once the upgraded service opens, customers must file or certify for benefits to receive the payments they are entitled to. The state says the interruption delays those payments and that customers can claim all amounts due after the transition. It will notify customers when the system is available.
The nine-to-12-day timetable is an estimate. The department's upgrade page has the latest notices and registration for email and text updates.
