Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team/Rockland-Westchester Journal News
State residents will be unable to access the New York unemployment insurance system for more than a week in November as officials upgrade the system.
The upgrade will take the entire system offline starting Nov. 2 and is expected to last nine to 12 days. Here’s what New Yorkers who receive or need to apply for unemployment benefits should know about the outage.
Why will the New York unemployment system go offline?
According to the New York State Department of Labor, officials are upgrading the state’s unemployment insurance system to improve customer service for New Yorkers and businesses across the state.
When will the outage begin and end?
The system will go offline at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2.
State officials expect the upgrade to take nine to 12 days, potentially extending into mid-November.
What does the outage mean for New Yorkers?
During the upgrade, all online and phone services for unemployment insurance will be unavailable, according to state labor officials. The system and call center will be offline, meaning New Yorkers will be unable to:
- File a new unemployment claim.
- Certify for weekly benefits.
- Access account information.
Unemployment payments are expected to be delayed during the outage.
Once the upgraded system is online and operational, customers will be able to file claims or certify for any payments due to them, according to state officials. Those who miss filing or certifying for the week before the outage can backdate their claims once the new system is operational.
New Yorkers must continue to complete and record their work search activities during the outage, labor officials said.
What if I need help during the outage?
Career Centers will be open virtually from Nov. 3 to Nov. 27 to help customers with job searches.
To get assistance, schedule a virtual appointment online. Career Center staff will not be able to answer unemployment insurance questions during these appointments.
Why is New York upgrading its unemployment system?
New York’s current unemployment insurance system is 50 years old and has “struggled to meet the needs of the modern customer,” state officials said in a news release. The overhaul is part of the Department of Labor’s plan to modernize its customer-facing services.
“This upgrade has been years in the making as we have worked hard to ensure that it delivers the results New Yorkers have been asking for and rightfully deserve,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in a news release.
“We are improving how we serve the public to make the process of filing a claim more straightforward, efficient, and user-friendly. This system will become a model for states across the nation, showing how, by embracing innovation, we can better deliver positive results for the people we serve across New York State.”
The new system is expected to improve claim-processing efficiency, allow customers to file from any device — including smartphones — and provide real-time access. It is also expected to streamline requirements for businesses, according to state officials.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News.
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