Can I get unemployment if I was laid off from my job in New York?
My company just had a round of layoffs last week and I was one of the people let go. They said it was due to budget cuts and downsizing, not performance related. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm not sure if being laid off qualifies me for benefits through NYS Department of Labor. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before applying? Also worried they might deny me since I was only at this job for about 8 months. Can anyone help me understand if layoffs qualify for UI benefits?
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QuantumQuester
Yes, being laid off definitely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in New York! Layoffs due to lack of work, budget cuts, or company downsizing are exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for. You should file your claim as soon as possible - don't wait. The NYS Department of Labor allows you to file online through their website, and you can backdate your claim to the week you were laid off. Having only 8 months at your current job shouldn't disqualify you as long as you have sufficient work history in the past 18 months.
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Connor O'Neill
•Thank you! That's such a relief to hear. I was worried I'd have to wait or that 8 months wasn't long enough. I'll start the application process today.
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Yara Nassar
File immediately! I was laid off from my retail job in March and got approved within 2 weeks. The key is to file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed. NYS Department of Labor will look at all your employment in the past 18 months to determine if you qualify, not just your most recent job. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment dates, and employer contact information ready when you apply.
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Keisha Williams
•This is good advice. I made the mistake of not filing weekly claims right away when I was laid off and it delayed my payments by several weeks.
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Paolo Ricci
Getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone can be really frustrating if you run into any issues with your claim. I had trouble with my application and couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Connor O'Neill
•Good to know there are options if I can't get through. Hopefully the online application goes smoothly but I'll keep this in mind just in case.
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Amina Toure
wait do they check why you got laid off? like what if your company says something different than what they told you??
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QuantumQuester
•NYS Department of Labor will contact your employer to verify the reason for separation, but layoffs due to lack of work are pretty straightforward. Your employer has to provide documentation if they want to dispute your claim.
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Oliver Zimmermann
The whole system is so confusing! I got laid off too but I'm scared to apply because what if they ask for money back later or something goes wrong with my application?
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Kayla Jacobson
•@Oliver Zimmermann I totally understand that fear! I was nervous too when I first applied after being laid off from my previous job. But honestly, the system is designed to help people in situations exactly like yours and Connor s.'The key is just being truthful about everything - your work history, the reason you were laid off, and continuing to certify weekly. NYS DOL isn t'trying to trick you or set you up to fail. If you were legitimately laid off due to no fault of your own, you deserve those benefits. Don t'let fear keep you from getting the support you re'entitled to!
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Diego Rojas
•@Oliver Zimmermann I was in the exact same boat when I got laid off from my marketing job last year - terrified I d'mess something up or somehow owe money back. But the process was actually much smoother than I expected. The NYS DOL website walks you through everything step by step, and as long as you re'honest about your situation which (it sounds like you have a clear-cut layoff case ,)there s'really nothing to worry about. The worst that can happen is they ask for clarification on something, but they re'not out to get you. You ve'paid into this system through your paychecks - these benefits are literally yours to claim when you need them!
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Yara Nassar
Don't be scared - just be honest on your application. As long as you report everything accurately and follow the job search requirements, you'll be fine. Layoffs are legitimate reasons for unemployment benefits.
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Diez Ellis
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when my tech company did massive layoffs. Being laid off absolutely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in NY - it's considered an involuntary separation through no fault of your own. Don't worry about only having 8 months at your current job either. The NYS DOL looks at your entire work history over the past 18 months to determine eligibility, so if you worked elsewhere before this job, that counts too. One tip: when you file online, make sure you have your last employer's FEIN number ready if possible - it speeds up the process. Also, start looking for work right away and keep records of your job search activities since you'll need to report them during your weekly certifications. The whole process was much less scary than I thought it would be!
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Mei Lin
•@Diez Ellis This is really helpful advice! I didn t'know about needing the FEIN number - that s'a great tip. Did you have any issues with the weekly job search reporting? I m'wondering how detailed those records need to be and what counts as a legitimate job search activity.
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