Can I file for unemployment after my severance runs out in New York?

Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment benefits once your severance ends. The key thing is that severance payments typically make you ineligible while you're receiving them, but once they stop, you can file a claim with NYS Department of Labor. I'd recommend filing your initial claim right after your last severance payment so there's no gap in coverage. Make sure you have your termination paperwork and severance agreement ready when you apply.

Just went through this exact situation last year. You'll want to file your claim as soon as possible after severance ends because there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. When you file online through my.ny.gov, they'll ask about any severance or separation pay you received. Be honest about the dates and amounts - NYS Department of Labor will verify this with your employer anyway.

ugh the nys department of labor website is so confusing about this stuff. i tried calling them when my severance ended but could never get through to a real person. ended up just filing online and hoping for the best

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount will be calculated based on your wages before you were laid off, not including the severance. So if you made good money before getting terminated, your weekly benefit should reflect that. The severance doesn't count as wages for UI calculation purposes.

Make sure you're ready to start your job search requirements right away too! NYS Department of Labor requires you to be actively looking for work and keeping a log of your search activities. Don't wait until after you file to start applying for jobs.

I'm in a similar situation right now - my severance runs out next month and I've been stressing about the timing. From what I've researched, you should be able to file immediately after your last severance payment. One tip I found is to gather all your employment documents now (W-2s, pay stubs, termination letter) so you're ready to go. Also, don't forget that you can start preparing your job search activities before you file - having that documentation ready will help you meet the work search requirements from day one.

@Mateo Rodriguez - I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! You can definitely file once your severance ends in February. Here's what I learned: file your claim on the first day after your last severance payment (so if your last payment is end of January, file February 1st). When you apply online, they'll ask about your severance - just be honest about the dates and amounts. The good news is your benefit amount will be based on your regular wages before termination, not the severance. Also start documenting your job search activities now even before you file, because NYS requires you to be actively looking and keeping records from day one of your claim. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for me from filing to receiving my first payment. Don't stress too much - you're in a pretty straightforward situation!

I just went through this process myself last month! You're absolutely right that you can file for unemployment once your severance ends - I filed my claim the day after my final severance payment and it went smoothly. One thing that really helped me was creating a folder with all my documents beforehand: termination letter, severance agreement, recent pay stubs, and W-2s. When I filed online through my.ny.gov, they asked detailed questions about the severance including exact dates and amounts, so having everything organized saved me time. Also, definitely start your job search documentation now even before filing - NYS requires you to log all your work search activities from the very first week you claim benefits. The whole approval process took about 2 weeks for me, and my first payment came the week after that. You're in a good position since your termination was a layoff rather than being fired for cause. Good luck!

I'm actually dealing with a similar situation right now - my severance ends in March and I've been researching this extensively. From everything I've read and the experiences shared here, you should be good to file right after your severance ends in February. One thing I learned that might help you is to screenshot or save copies of your severance agreement and any communications from your employer about the payments, since NYS Department of Labor sometimes asks for documentation to verify the dates. Also, I'd recommend setting up your my.ny.gov account now if you haven't already - it takes a few days to get verified and you'll want to be ready to file immediately once February hits. The consensus seems to be that timing is important to avoid any gaps in coverage. Hope this helps and good luck with your claim!

I went through this exact situation in New York last year and can confirm you're on the right track! You can absolutely file for unemployment once your severance payments end in February. The key is to file your initial claim as soon as possible after your last severance payment - don't wait weeks or you might miss out on benefits you're entitled to. When I applied through my.ny.gov, they asked very specific questions about my severance including exact dollar amounts and payment dates, so definitely keep all your documentation handy. One thing that caught me off guard was that they required me to report my severance even though it had already ended - it's part of their standard verification process. Also, start planning your job search strategy now because NYS has pretty strict work search requirements that kick in immediately. The good news is your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your regular wages before you were laid off, not including the severance payments. My whole process from filing to first payment took about 3 weeks total. You should be in good shape since this is a straightforward layoff situation!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who recently navigated this process! You're absolutely right that you can file once your severance ends - I did this successfully earlier this year. One tip that really helped me was to take screenshots of the my.ny.gov confirmation pages after filing, because sometimes the system can be glitchy and it's good to have proof you submitted everything on time. Also, if your employer provided you with any written documentation about when your severance officially ends (like an HR letter or email), save copies of those too - I found NYS Department of Labor appreciated having that clear documentation during the review process. The transition from severance to unemployment benefits was smoother than I expected once I had all my paperwork organized. You're being smart by planning ahead instead of waiting until the last minute!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My severance runs out in March and I've been researching this non-stop. Based on everything I've read here and from the NYS Department of Labor website, you can definitely file once your severance payments end. What I've learned is that timing is crucial - you want to file your initial claim the day after your last severance payment to avoid any gaps in coverage. I've already started gathering all my documents (termination letter, severance agreement, recent pay stubs) and set up my my.ny.gov account so I'm ready to go immediately when March hits. One thing that's been helpful is keeping a detailed calendar of when each severance payment comes in so I know exactly when to file. Also started documenting potential job opportunities now even though I haven't officially started my search yet - figured it's better to be over-prepared for those work search requirements. The peace of mind from planning ahead has been worth it!

I just went through this process a few months ago and can definitely confirm you can file once your severance ends! Here's what worked for me: I filed my claim on February 1st (the day after my last severance payment on January 31st) and had my first unemployment payment within 3 weeks. A few practical tips that really helped - first, make sure you have your termination paperwork, severance agreement, and last few pay stubs ready because the online application asks for specific dates and dollar amounts. Second, create your my.ny.gov account now if you haven't already since it takes a few days to verify. Third, start keeping a simple spreadsheet of job search activities even before you file - NYS requires documentation from week one and it's easier to be prepared. The whole process was much more straightforward than I expected, especially since you have a clear layoff situation rather than termination for cause. Don't stress too much about the gap between severance ending and benefits starting - as long as you file promptly, you should be covered. Good luck!