Can I apply for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - eligibility requirements?
I'm wondering if I can apply for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. I lost my job last week after working for the same company for 8 months. My manager said it was due to budget cuts but I'm not sure if I qualify. Do I meet the requirements to file a claim? I've never applied before and don't know where to start with the whole process.
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Zara Malik
Yes, you can definitely apply! Since you worked for 8 months, you should meet the basic work requirements. You need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period. Go to my.ny.gov and look for the unemployment services section to start your claim. Make sure you have your employer information and Social Security number ready.
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Sean Kelly
•Thank you! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before applying or should I do it right away?
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Luca Greco
Apply as soon as possible! Your claim starts from the week you file, not when you lost your job. You'll need to file weekly claims to keep getting benefits. The NYS Department of Labor website has all the forms you need.
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Nia Thompson
•this is true, i waited like 2 weeks to apply and lost out on money
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Mateo Rodriguez
Wait but what if they contest it?? I'm so worried about applying because what if my employer fights it and then I get in trouble or have to pay money back? I heard some people get overpayment notices...
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Zara Malik
•Don't worry about that right now. If you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's not your fault and you should qualify. Overpayments usually happen when people don't report work or earnings correctly.
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Aisha Hussain
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check on my claim status. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.
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GalacticGladiator
•interesting never heard of that before
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Ethan Brown
Just make sure you're ready for the job search requirements once you start getting benefits. They're pretty strict about that stuff now. You have to document your job search activities every week.
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