Can you apply for unemployment after a year gap - NYS Department of Labor rules?

Unfortunately, you generally need to file your unemployment claim within a specific timeframe after becoming unemployed. In New York, you typically need to file within one year of your separation date, but there are base period requirements that might affect your eligibility. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Since you lost your job in January 2024, your base period would be different now than if you had filed then.

dude i think ur probably out of luck after waiting this long... most people i know filed right away when they got fired

Actually, you can still apply - the worst they can say is no. The NYS Department of Labor will determine your eligibility based on your base period wages and the reason for separation. Even though you waited, if you have sufficient wages in your base period, you might still qualify. Go to the my.ny.gov website and start an application. Make sure you have your employment history and wage information ready.

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to ask questions about my claim timing. If you need to speak with someone directly about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to unemployment agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was super helpful when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP! They probably hope people like you just won't bother applying after waiting so long. File anyway and make them tell you no officially.

my cousin waited like 8 months and still got approved so maybe theres hope? idk the rules exactly but worth a shot i guess

I was in a somewhat similar situation - waited about 6 months before applying because I kept thinking I'd find work soon. The NYS Department of Labor did approve my claim, but I definitely lost out on those months of benefits I could have received earlier. The key thing is your base period wages - they'll look at your highest earning quarter from the base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. Since you worked in 2023, you should have qualifying wages. Don't let the delay discourage you from applying - you've already lost potential benefits by waiting, so there's no point in losing more. Just be honest about your separation date and reason when you apply online.