Senator Ranzenhofer's COVID-19 Unemployment Assistance Information
April 1, 2020
The ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has severely damaged many small businesses and left thousands of hard working Western New Yorkers unemployed. As your State Senator, I am working to provide critical support to employees who are out of work and struggling small businesses.
Recent changes have been made to the New York State Unemployment Assistance Program as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more residents-including some small business owners-are eligible for benefits. Attached you will find information that may be helpful in answering any questions you may have. Please feel free to share this information throughout the community.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Checklist
In addition, the state is waiving the 7-day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to COVID-19 closures or quarantines.
Those who need to apply for unemployment can do so here https://www.ny.gov/services/get-unemployment-assistance.