Can you collect unemployment if your company closes permanently in NY?

Yes, you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits when your company closes! This is considered an involuntary separation through no fault of your own, which is exactly what UI is designed for. Make sure to get a copy of your final pay stub, any severance paperwork, and ask HR for a letter stating the business closure date and reason. You can file your claim online through my.ny.gov as soon as your last day of work.

same thing happened at my last job when the restaurant i worked at closed during covid. filed right away and got approved within a week. the hardest part was getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor when i had questions about my weekly claims

File your claim the week you become unemployed, not before. Even though you know the closure date in advance, NYS Department of Labor processes claims based on when you actually stop working. Also document everything - take photos of any closure notices, save emails about the shutdown, and keep contact info for your supervisor in case they need verification during adjudication.

I went through this exact situation last year when my company went under. The whole process was way more stressful than it needed to be because I kept getting hung up on when calling NYS Department of Labor with questions about my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to real agents - there's even a demo video showing how it works (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI). Saved me hours of frustration trying to get basic answers about my weekly claims.

The system is so broken though!!! I filed when my company closed and it took SIX WEEKS to get my first payment because they kept asking for more verification. Meanwhile bills don't stop coming just because NYS Department of Labor is slow at processing claims. Make sure you have savings because 'eligible' doesn't mean 'fast

hey just wanted to say good luck with everything. losing a job is hard enough without having to deal with all the bureaucracy. at least you have advance warning to get your paperwork together

So sorry to hear about your company closing down - that's really tough news to receive. The good news is that you definitely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a business closure and not a termination for cause. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given is to make sure you file your claim during the first week you're unemployed, not the week before. Also, if your employer is offering any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start, so be sure to report that when you file. The process can feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with job loss, but you've got this!

I'm so sorry to hear about your company closing - that must be incredibly stressful after 15 years! Just wanted to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records. I'd also suggest taking screenshots of any company announcements or emails about the closure, and if possible, get contact information for HR or your manager before they leave. Sometimes NYS DOL needs to verify details months later, and if the company is completely shut down, it can be harder to get that verification. The silver lining is that business closures are usually pretty straightforward cases for unemployment approval since there's no question about fault. Hang in there!

I went through this exact same situation about two years ago when the manufacturing plant I worked at for 8 years shut down. You absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits - business closure is one of the clearest cases for UI eligibility since it's completely involuntary and through no fault of your own. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to start gathering your documentation NOW while you still have access to everything. Make copies of your employment contract, recent performance reviews, and any company communications about the closure. Also, if your company has a union or employee handbook, grab copies of those too as they sometimes contain information about layoff procedures that can be helpful. The online filing process through my.ny.gov is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started. Don't stress too much about the paperwork - NYS DOL has dealt with plenty of business closures and they know how to process these cases. You've got this!

I'm really sorry to hear about your company closing after 15 years - that must be such a shock for everyone involved. The good news is you definitely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a legitimate business closure and not a performance-related termination. I'd recommend creating a checklist of all the documents you need to gather before your last day: final paystubs, any layoff notices, contact info for HR/supervisors, and even photos of official closure announcements. One thing that helped me when I went through something similar was setting up a dedicated folder (both physical and digital) to keep all unemployment-related documents organized from the start. The NYS DOL website has a pretty detailed checklist of what you'll need, and filing online is definitely the way to go. Also, don't hesitate to reach out to your local One-Stop Career Center - they often have staff who can walk you through the process and help with job search resources too. You're being proactive by asking these questions now, which puts you ahead of the game!

I'm so sorry you and your 40 coworkers are going through this - company closures are always tough, especially after so many years. The good news is you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits! Business closure is considered involuntary separation, which is exactly what UI is designed to cover. I'd definitely echo what others have said about documenting everything now while you still have access. Beyond the basics like pay stubs and closure notices, I'd also suggest asking your employer if they can provide a brief letter on company letterhead confirming the closure date and that all employees were laid off due to business closure (not performance). This can really speed up the approval process since it clearly establishes the reason for separation. Also, if your employer is providing any WARN Act notice or severance details, make sure to get copies of those documents too. You can file your claim online through my.ny.gov starting the week you become unemployed. The process might feel daunting right now, but you're already being smart by gathering information early. Best of luck to you and your coworkers during this transition!

I'm really sorry to hear about your company closing - that's such difficult news to process, especially after being there for so long. The silver lining is that you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a clear case of involuntary separation due to business closure. I went through something similar when my previous employer shut down unexpectedly, and while the paperwork seems overwhelming at first, it's actually pretty manageable if you stay organized. One tip I'd add is to take photos/screenshots of any company-wide emails or announcements about the closure with your phone - sometimes digital copies are easier to access later than printed documents. Also, consider reaching out to former colleagues after you've all filed your claims, since you'll all be going through the same process and can share updates or tips with each other. The NYS DOL system can be slow, but business closures are usually approved without much hassle since there's no question about the reason for separation. Wishing you the best during this transition - it's tough now but you'll get through it!

I'm so sorry to hear about your company closing after 15 years - that must be incredibly difficult for you and all your coworkers. You definitely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a business closure, which is considered involuntary separation through no fault of your own. One thing I'd suggest is creating a timeline of important dates (closure announcement, last day of work, when benefits should start) to help you stay organized throughout the process. Also, if your company has an employee handbook or any written policies about layoffs, grab a copy of those too. Sometimes they contain useful information about final pay, accrued vacation time, or other benefits that could affect your unemployment claim timing. The fact that you're thinking ahead and asking these questions now shows you're already on the right track. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - thousands of people successfully navigate this process every year, and business closures are actually some of the more straightforward cases for approval since there's no dispute about the reason for separation.

I'm really sorry to hear about your company closing - that's such a tough situation to face, especially after 15 years. But yes, you absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits! Business closure is one of the clearest cases for UI eligibility since it's completely involuntary. I'd recommend getting organized now while you still have access to everything at work. Make sure to save copies of any company emails about the closure, your recent pay stubs, and get your supervisor's contact info before everyone scatters. The online filing process through my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward once you get started. File your claim the week you actually become unemployed, not before. Also, if your company offers any severance, make sure to report that as it might affect when your benefits start. You're smart to start preparing now - having your documentation ready will make the whole process much smoother. Hang in there!