Just to add - even though you can file right away, make sure you have all your documentation ready. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and details about how you lost your job. Having everything organized will make the application process smoother with NYS Department of Labor.

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to emphasize that the "file immediately" rule is super important. I learned this the hard way when I got laid off from my retail job last year. I waited almost 2 weeks because I thought I needed to have a certain number of job applications submitted first, but that's not required to file the initial claim. The job search requirements come after you start receiving benefits. NYS Department of Labor starts your benefit year from when you file, not when you lost your job, so every day you wait is potentially money left on the table. The online system at my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward once you get started.

Look I worked for unemployment before (not anymore thank god lol). Here's the deal - regular UI benefits last 26 weeks from your initial claim date. Extensions might be available depending on the state's unemployment rate. The website won't show your end date clearly, but you can calculate it yourself: find your initial claim date and add 26 weeks. The system sends notice when you're getting close to exhausting benefits but sometimes these get lost. Best way is definitely to call and confirm. Use claimyr.com if you don't want to waste time on hold - we actually recommended it to people when I worked there because the phone lines are so backed up. Keep all your documents and screenshots. The system is old and glitchy, and sometimes info disappears.

Another tip - if you log into your account and go to "View and Maintain Account Information" then click on "Monetary and Issue Summary" it sometimes shows your benefit year dates there. Not always reliable but worth checking. Also your first payment voucher usually has your claim effective date on it, so you can count 26 weeks from there. The whole system is a mess but those are the few places that might actually show useful info without having to call.

For your situation earning $180/week with a $220 benefit rate, here's how it works: Your earnings disregard would be the higher of $50 or 25% of $220 (which is $55). So you can earn up to $55 without any benefit reduction. Since you're earning $180, that's $125 over the disregard amount ($180-$55=$125). Your unemployment benefit gets reduced by that $125, so you'd receive $95 instead of the full $220 ($220-$125=$95). Plus you keep your $180 from work, giving you $275 total weekly income. The system is designed to incentivize work while still providing support.

I went through this same confusion when I first started working part-time while on unemployment. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly earnings and benefits so I could see the pattern. Also, if you ever have weeks where you earn less (like if you get fewer hours), your unemployment benefit will automatically adjust upward again. The system recalculates every week based on what you report, so it's not like you're locked into that $95 amount forever. Just make sure you're always honest about your earnings - the penalties for underreporting are serious and they do cross-check with employers.

Just make sure your employer is classifying you correctly as an employee and not trying to call you a contractor to avoid paying UI taxes. That's unfortunately common and would leave you without coverage.

@NeonNomad You're all set! No forms needed from your end. Your employer automatically registers you when they start paying UI taxes on your wages. Just keep your pay stubs and employment records in case you ever need to prove your work history for a claim. The system tracks everything based on your SSN and employer reporting.

I agree with everyone saying to file immediately - don't wait! I was in a similar situation last year where I hesitated for a few weeks thinking the job market might turn around quickly, and I ended up losing out on those weeks of benefits. The unemployment rate going up or down doesn't change your eligibility or how fast they process claims. What matters is that you lost your job through no fault of your own. File today and start your weekly certifications as soon as you're able to. The sooner you get in the system, the sooner you can start receiving benefits while you look for your next job.

From someone who works in HR and has helped employees through layoffs - definitely file immediately! The unemployment rate in your area or statewide has zero impact on your individual claim processing time or approval odds. Your eligibility is based on your work history and the reason you lost your job, not economic trends. I've seen people lose out on thousands of dollars because they waited "to see what happens" with the job market. The NYS DOL system processes claims in the order they're received, and your weekly benefit amount is calculated from your wages in the base period regardless of current unemployment statistics. File today and focus your energy on your job search instead of worrying about things outside your control.