Can you file for unemployment before your last day of work in NY?
My supervisor told me Friday will be my last day due to company restructuring. I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment before my last day or do I have to wait until after? I've heard different things from coworkers and want to make sure I don't mess anything up with NYS Department of Labor. My last paycheck will be this Friday and I start getting really nervous about the gap between paychecks. Should I wait until Monday to file or can I do it sooner?
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Micah Trail
You need to wait until your employment officially ends before filing with NYS Department of Labor. If you file before your last day, it could create issues with your claim because technically you're still employed. The system will ask for your last day of work, and filing while still on payroll can trigger adjudication delays. File the day after your last day of work or the Monday following if your last day is Friday.
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Kristin Frank
•Thanks! So I should file Monday then since Friday is my last day? Will there be any delay in getting benefits if I wait until Monday instead of filing immediately?
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Nia Watson
I made this mistake last year - filed on my last day thinking I was being proactive. NYS Department of Labor flagged it and my claim got stuck in adjudication for almost 3 weeks while they verified my employment end date. Just wait until you're completely done working, trust me it's worth avoiding the headache.
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Alberto Souchard
•Same thing happened to my brother! He thought he was being smart filing early but it just created more problems.
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Katherine Shultz
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify this or check on your claim status later, I used claimyr.com recently and it actually worked. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It helped me get through to an actual agent when I couldn't reach anyone through the regular phone lines.
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Marcus Marsh
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money while waiting for benefits to start.
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Katherine Shultz
•It's worth checking out their site for the details, but honestly getting through to resolve issues quickly probably saves you more money in the long run than waiting weeks for benefits.
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Hailey O'Leary
wait so if my last day is wednesday can i file thursday?? this is so confusing why cant we just file whenever
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Micah Trail
•Yes, you can file the day after your employment ends. So if Wednesday is your last day, Thursday would be fine to file your initial claim.
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Cedric Chung
The whole system is designed to trip you up I swear. Last time I filed they made me wait forever just because I put the wrong date somewhere. But yeah definitely wait until you're actually unemployed or they'll find some reason to delay everything.
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Andre Moreau
Just want to add that when you do file after your last day, make sure you have all your documentation ready - your final pay stub, any separation paperwork from your employer, and exact dates of employment. NYS DOL will ask for your employer's information too, so have that contact info handy. The online system is usually fastest, but expect it to be slow during peak hours (Monday mornings are brutal). Good luck with the transition!
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Jordan Walker
•This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation and was wondering about the documentation part. Do you know if they accept digital copies of pay stubs or do they need physical copies? Also, how long does the online application usually take to complete?
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