Can you apply for unemployment months later in NYS - missed filing deadline?
I lost my job back in September but didn't apply for unemployment right away because I thought I'd find something quickly. It's now January and I'm still unemployed. Can you apply for unemployment months later with NYS Department of Labor or did I miss my chance? I keep reading conflicting information online about backdating claims. Has anyone successfully filed a late claim and gotten benefits for the months they missed?
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Aaron Boston
You can still file but there are time limits. NYS Department of Labor allows you to backdate your claim up to 52 weeks, but you need a valid reason for the delay. The sooner you file the better - each week you wait is potentially another week of benefits lost. You'll need to explain why you waited during the application process.
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Sofia Peña
•What counts as a valid reason? I just thought I'd find work faster and didn't want to deal with the hassle.
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Sophia Carter
I did this last year when I waited 3 months to file. NYS Department of Labor approved my backdating but I had to provide documentation showing I was actively looking for work during those months. Keep any job applications, interview emails, or networking records you might have from September onwards.
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Chloe Zhang
•How long did it take them to process your backdate request? I'm in a similar situation.
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Sophia Carter
•About 6 weeks total but that included an adjudication review. The key was having proof I was job searching the whole time.
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Brandon Parker
DEFINITELY file NOW! Even if they don't approve the full backdate you'll at least start getting benefits going forward. The longer you wait the worse it gets. I made the same mistake and lost out on thousands because I procrastinated.
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Adriana Cohn
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to discuss your situation, I used claimyr.com when I needed to speak with an agent about my claim issues. They have this video demo (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.
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Sofia Peña
•Thanks, I'll check that out. The phone lines are impossible to get through on.
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Jace Caspullo
wait so you can backdate unemployment?? i thought if you didn't file right away you were just screwed
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Aaron Boston
•Yes but it's not automatic. You have to request it and provide justification for why you delayed filing.
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Hugh Intensity
I was in almost the exact same situation - lost my job in October and didn't file until February because I kept thinking "next week I'll find something." NYS DOL did approve my backdate request, but I only got about 60% of the weeks I requested. The adjudicator said my reason (expecting to find work quickly) was understandable but not considered "good cause" for the entire period. Still, getting partial backpay was better than nothing! My advice: file immediately and gather any evidence you have of job searching activities from September onward - even informal networking or browsing job boards counts as active search if you can document it somehow.
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's really helpful to know - getting 60% is definitely better than nothing! Quick question: when you say "document it somehow" for job searching, what kind of evidence did they actually accept? I'm worried because most of my job searching was just browsing Indeed and LinkedIn without really keeping records. Did they accept screenshots or anything like that?
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