Can I still get unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I lost my job about 6 weeks ago and haven't filed for unemployment yet because I thought I might find something quickly. Now I'm getting worried about money and wondering if it's too late to apply for NYS Department of Labor benefits? I keep seeing different information online about deadlines and I'm not sure what applies to my situation. Has anyone filed this late after losing their job?
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Dallas Villalobos
You can definitely still file! There's no specific deadline for filing your initial unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor. However, you can only get benefits going back to the week you actually file, not retroactive to when you lost your job. So the sooner you file, the better. You'll need to file your claim on the my.ny.gov website.
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Melina Haruko
•Oh thank god! I was so worried I missed some kind of window. Should I file today then?
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Reina Salazar
Yes, file immediately! I made the same mistake and waited 3 months thinking I'd find work fast. You lose all that money you could have been getting. The NYS Department of Labor system will ask for your last day of work but benefits only start from when you file. Make sure you have your employer info and Social Security number ready.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•This is so true. I waited 2 weeks and lost out on like $800. File as soon as possible.
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Demi Lagos
Just a heads up - even though you CAN file late, they might ask why you waited so long during the phone interview. I had to explain my delay when I filed 8 weeks after being laid off. It wasn't a big deal but they did ask about it during my adjudication call.
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Melina Haruko
•What did you tell them? I'm worried they'll think I wasn't actually looking for work or something.
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Demi Lagos
•I just told them the truth - that I thought I'd find work quickly and didn't realize I could file right away. They were fine with it. Just be honest about your job search efforts.
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Mason Lopez
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone for questions, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me connect with an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Really saved me time instead of calling all day and getting busy signals.
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Vera Visnjic
•never heard of this but might be worth it, the phone lines are absolutely impossible
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Vera Visnjic
the system is so messed up anyway, i filed right away when i got fired and still waited 6 weeks for my first payment because of some adjudication thing. at least you might avoid some of the early rush periods
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