definitely file asap! i made the mistake of waiting like 2 weeks thinking i needed to 'settle in' to being unemployed first and totally screwed myself out of those benefits. you cant backdate claims in NY so every day you wait is money lost

same boat as OP, got let go last month and filed immediately. one thing they dont tell you is that even after you file youll probably have to wait for them to verify everything with your employer. took about 10 days before my weekly claims were actually payable. but yeah definitely dont wait to file the initial claim

honestly the whole system is set up to make you feel guilty about filing when you shouldnt. employers know this is part of doing business when they hire people. dont let them guilt trip you into not filing if you deserve benefits

This reminds me when I was worried about the same thing back in 2019. Turned out my employer actually encouraged me to file because they knew I was eligible and it didn't directly cost them anything. Some employers even help with the paperwork because they want to make sure everything is documented properly for their own records.

I was having such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on my claim status - kept getting busy signals and disconnected. Someone here recommended trying claimyr.com and honestly it was a game changer. They have this service where they'll call for you and get you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.

Just remember the $504 is before taxes. They'll take out federal and state taxes unless you opt out, so your actual deposit will be less. Also if you have any other income like freelance work you have to report it and it reduces your weekly benefit. The NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about this stuff so don't mess around with unreported income.

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor for any unemployment questions, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really useful when you need to talk to someone about your claim status.

Your professor is right that some unemployment is normal. Frictional unemployment shows that workers have mobility and choices, which economists view positively. It's very different from the unemployment that results from recessions or when entire industries become obsolete.

Just so you know, once you file your initial claim you'll need to certify for benefits every week by filing your weekly claim. Don't forget to do this even while your claim is being processed or you could lose benefits for those weeks.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too! NYS Department of Labor requires you to make work search contacts each week and keep a log. The requirements changed recently so don't assume you know what they are if you've filed before.