NYS Department of Labor system upgrade to delay unemployment benefits in November

Jobless New Yorkers will temporarily be unable to receive or apply for benefits in November as the state labor department overhauls its 50-year-old unemployment insurance system, labor officials said Monday.

Starting at 5 p.m. on Nov. 2, and continuing for about nine to 12 days, the New York State Department of Labor will pause unemployment services by phone and the internet, the agency said in a news release Monday.

During that time, people seeking benefits will be unable to file for unemployment, certify their benefits or access their accounts, officials said. Additionally, payments to benefit recipients will be late, though they will receive the back money once the upgrade is finished, officials said. Unemployed individuals seeking benefits are still expected to complete at least three job-hunting activities a week.

The Department of Labor will alert job seekers and businesses when the modernized system is ready and accessible again, officials said.

The upgrade will mark a significant disruption in a vital safety net for job seekers, but state officials contend the revamp is needed for a system that "has struggled to meet the needs of the modern customer."

The upgrade, the state said, will simplify businesses’ unemployment requirements, allow users to file claims on their smartphones and increase accessibility for people with disabilities.

"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," state Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in the news release. "We are improving how we serve the public to make the process of filing a claim more straightforward, efficient, and user-friendly."

Among the changes to come in the upgraded system will be a prompt requiring job seekers to provide necessary documentation before they put in a claim. Missing information is the chief reason why claims are stalled, state officials said.

To ease demand for call assistance, people filing for benefits will be able to use the upgraded system to upload documents, look at their claim status and exchange messages with staff, officials said.

Meanwhile, businesses will be allowed to make 24/7 payments, add third-party representation and better manage their accounts, among other features, officials said. 

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.