Can I apply for unemployment if I was laid off from my job in NY?
My company just laid me off yesterday along with about 30 other people due to budget cuts. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm not sure if being laid off qualifies me or what the process looks like. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before applying? I'm really stressed about how I'm going to pay my bills next month. Any guidance would be really appreciated.
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Nia Wilson
Yes, being laid off definitely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in NY! You should apply as soon as possible through the NYS Department of Labor website. Don't wait - there's a waiting week but you want to get your claim started right away. You'll need your social security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and bank info for direct deposit.
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Luca Ferrari
•Thank you! Should I apply even though I got severance pay? Will that affect my benefits?
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Mateo Martinez
The severance might delay when your benefits start, but it won't disqualify you. NYS Department of Labor will ask about any severance or vacation pay when you file. Make sure to report it honestly - they'll figure out when your benefits should begin based on that. The key thing is to file your initial claim now even if benefits don't start immediately.
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Aisha Hussain
•This happened to me last year. I got 4 weeks severance and my UI benefits started after that period ended. Just be upfront about everything when you file.
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Ethan Clark
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible! The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you run into issues reaching them.
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StarStrider
•Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than trying to call the regular number. Thanks for sharing!
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Yuki Sato
just apply online its pretty straightforward, took me like 30 mins to complete the whole thing
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