Can I file NY unemployment now for back weeks I never claimed?

Unfortunately, NY unemployment doesn't typically allow you to claim benefits for weeks before you actually filed your initial claim. The general rule is that benefits start from the week you file, not when you became unemployed. You can only backdate a claim under very specific circumstances, like if there was a system error that prevented you from filing. You should still file ASAP to start getting benefits going forward. When you apply, there's a question asking when you became unemployed - be honest about October, but understand you'll likely only get benefits from your filing date onward.

i think u might be able to get some back pay if u call and explan ur situation. my cousin got like 3 weeks backpay when he filed late bc he was in the hospital.

The official NYSDOL policy is that they only backdate claims for "good cause" reasons. Being in the hospital (like someone mentioned) or having proof the website was down would count. Just not knowing or thinking you'd find work soon typically doesn't qualify as good cause. BUT - you should absolutely still try! When you file, there's a section for additional information. Explain your situation there. Also, once you get your NY.gov ID set up, try calling the claims center directly. Explaining your hardship situation to an actual person sometimes works. Honestly though, getting through to a live agent is the hardest part right now. I spent TWO WEEKS trying to reach someone about my back pay issue. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. My backdating request still got denied, but at least I got a definitive answer instead of waiting forever.

For me it was worth it because I was spending hours every day trying to get through. The time I saved was valuable to me, but everyone's situation is different. You could try the regular phone line first and see how it goes.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US!!! They make these rules ON PURPOSE to avoid paying benefits we deserve!!! I was in the exact same boat last year and they denied my backpay request even though I had EVERY RIGHT to those benefits!! They'll tell you that "not knowing" isn't a valid reason but NOWHERE on their website does it clearly say "FILE IMMEDIATELY OR LOSE BENEFITS FOREVER" - they HIDE this information!!!

Kind of a similar situation happened to me last year. I waited about 6 weeks before filing because my employer told me they might be bringing me back. When I finally filed in March 2024, I explained the situation to the agent and they were able to backdate my claim by 4 weeks (not the full 6 I waited, but better than nothing). So it's definitely worth trying - just be polite and clear about why you didn't file right away. The worst they can say is no.

I'm going through something similar right now and honestly the most important thing is to FILE IMMEDIATELY!! Even if you don't get backpay (which seems unlikely based on what others said), at least you'll start getting benefits going forward. When you do file, make sure to have all your employment info ready: - Your employment history for the past 18 months - Names, addresses and phone numbers of all employers - Your Social Security number - If you're not a US citizen, your work authorization info - Your bank account info for direct deposit Good luck!

I have a question that's kinda related. I filed for unemployment but never certified for my first two weeks because I didn't understand the process. Now I'm trying to claim those weeks but the system won't let me go back. Is this the same issue or something different?

Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I'm going to file my claim today and explain my situation as clearly as possible. Even if I can't get the back weeks, at least I'll start getting something going forward. I'll update here if I have any luck with the backdating request!

Just want to add my experience here - I was in a very similar situation in 2023. Lost my job in August but didn't file until November because I was confident I'd land something quickly (spoiler: I didn't). When I finally filed, I was completely honest about my unemployment start date and explained that I had been actively job searching but didn't realize I should file immediately. The agent I spoke with was sympathetic but explained that NY generally doesn't backdate for "personal choice" reasons, even when that choice was based on optimism about finding work. I didn't get any backpay, but here's what I learned: file your initial claim online at labor.ny.gov, and when you get to the section asking why you're filing now instead of when you first became unemployed, be completely honest but frame it around any external factors if possible. Did you have interviews lined up? Were you told by someone you might not qualify? Any documentation helps. The silver lining is that once you're in the system, NY unemployment benefits are pretty decent compared to other states. You'll likely get benefits going forward, which is better than nothing. Don't let the potential backpay denial discourage you from filing - every week you wait is another week of benefits you're definitely losing.