Can I Collect NYS Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Workers’ Compensation?

September 24, 2015 — by William Crossett

Yes – you can collect both NYS Unemployment Insurance benefits and Workers’ Compensation benefits at the same time. Your eligibility for both benefits will generally occur if you are being paid at a partial disability rate from Workers’ Compensation and are deemed ready, willing, and able to work by the Unemployment office. Alternatively, if your doctor’s opine you to be totally disabled and you are receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits at the total rate, you are likely not eligible for Unemployment benefits.

While you can collect both benefits at the same time, you cannot collect more than your Average Weekly Wage from both benefits. For example, if your Average Weekly Wage is set at $500.00 per week, your unemployment benefits will go down if you are collecting more than this from both Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment. Your Workers’ Compensation is set first and your Unemployment benefits are adjusted accordingly. Therefore, you must report your Workers’ Compensation earnings to the Unemployment office.