Can you collect unemployment if you're laid off from NYS Department of Labor perspective?

Yes, being laid off absolutely qualifies you for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. Since you were separated from employment through no fault of your own and you have sufficient work history, you should be eligible. You can file your claim online at my.ny.gov starting the week you become unemployed. Make sure to file during your first week of unemployment to avoid any delays in processing.

I got laid off last year and had no issues getting approved for benefits. The key is that you were separated involuntarily - layoffs, downsizing, company closures all count. Just make sure you have your employment dates and salary information ready when you file.

File your claim the week you become unemployed, not before. NYS Department of Labor requires that you be unemployed to start receiving benefits. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and bank account info for direct deposit. The process is pretty straightforward online.

Getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone can be really difficult if you have questions. I had trouble reaching someone when I needed help with my claim status. A friend told me about claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you run into any issues.

just went thru this myself, layoffs definitely qualify you. make sure to keep filing your weekly claims even if your first payment takes a while to process