Can you file for unemployment if you work from home - NYS Department of Labor eligibility question

Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment if you work from home! What matters for NYS Department of Labor eligibility is where YOU live and work, not where your employer's main office is located. Since you're working from your home in NY, you file with NYS Department of Labor. The fact that it's remote work doesn't change your eligibility at all - you were still an employee paying into the unemployment system.

I went through this exact situation last year when my remote job ended. NYS Department of Labor processes remote workers just like any other employee. You'll need your employer's info, your last day of work, and reason for separation. The location where you physically worked (your home) is what determines which state you file in. Make sure you have your pay stubs and any termination paperwork ready when you file your initial claim.

wait so if i work remotely for a company in another state but live in NY i still file here? i thought you had to file where the company is

I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I needed to ask questions about my remote work situation. If you run into issues getting through on the phone, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me connect with an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call during those impossible busy times.

Just make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Even though you worked remotely, you'll still need to do your weekly job searches and keep a log. Some people think remote workers get different rules but nope, same requirements apply.

As someone who's been through the remote work unemployment process, I'd recommend filing online through the NYS Department of Labor website as soon as possible - don't wait! The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. Also, when you're filling out the application, make sure to clearly indicate that you worked from your home address in NY. This helps avoid any confusion about jurisdiction. The system is actually pretty straightforward for remote workers now since so many people went remote during the pandemic. Good luck with your claim!

I'm in a similar situation - just got laid off from my remote marketing job last week and have been stressing about the unemployment application. This thread is incredibly helpful! One question I have is about the wage calculation - since I worked remotely for a company based in another state, will NYS Department of Labor be able to access all my wage information easily, or do I need to provide additional documentation beyond what my employer gives me? I want to make sure I don't miss anything that could delay my claim processing.

I just went through this process myself after being laid off from a remote position with a California-based company while living in Rochester. The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor has really streamlined their system for remote workers since the pandemic made this so common. When you file your initial claim online, you'll be asked about your "primary work location" - that's where you put your home address in NY. The system will automatically route you to the correct state based on where you physically worked, not where your employer's headquarters are located. One tip: make sure you have your employer's Federal EIN number handy when you file, as this helps the system quickly verify your employment history. The whole process took me about 20 minutes online, and I started receiving benefits within 3 weeks. Don't overthink it - remote work is totally normal for unemployment claims now!

I'm facing a similar situation - just got notice that my remote position with a tech startup is ending next month due to funding issues. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It's reassuring to know that the process is straightforward for remote workers now. One thing I'm wondering about is timing - should I wait until my actual last day of work to file the claim, or can I file earlier since I already know the end date? Also, has anyone had experience with how severance pay affects the unemployment timeline? My employer mentioned they might provide a small severance package, and I want to make sure I handle the application correctly to avoid any delays or issues with my benefits.

I work remotely for a financial services company headquartered in New Jersey, but I live and work from my apartment in Buffalo. This thread has been incredibly helpful in clarifying that I would file with NYS Department of Labor if I lose my job, not New Jersey's system. One thing I'm curious about that hasn't been mentioned yet - does anyone know how working across state lines affects tax withholdings and unemployment benefits? My company withholds NY state taxes from my paycheck since that's where I work, but I want to make sure this aligns properly with unemployment eligibility. I've been with the company for 2 years and want to be prepared just in case layoffs happen in our department.

This is such valuable information for remote workers! I've been working from home in Albany for a Denver-based company for about 6 months now, and honestly I had no idea how unemployment would work if something happened to my job. The clarification that it's based on where you physically work (your home location) rather than where the company is headquartered makes total sense but I definitely would have gotten confused about this. It's really helpful to see so many people sharing their actual experiences with NYS Department of Labor handling remote work situations smoothly. I'm bookmarking this thread just in case I ever need to reference it. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently working remotely from Syracuse for a company based in Texas, and I've been worried about what would happen if I lost my job. It's such a relief to know that NYS Department of Labor handles remote workers just like any other employee. One thing I want to add for anyone reading this - make sure you keep copies of all your employment documentation in a safe place, especially your offer letter or employment contract that shows your start date and job title. When I was helping my sister with her unemployment claim last year (she worked in a traditional office setting), having all that paperwork organized made the whole process so much faster. For remote workers especially, having clear documentation of your employment relationship can help avoid any potential delays in processing your claim.

I'm a newcomer to this community and this discussion has been incredibly eye-opening! I just started working remotely from Long Island for a company based in Chicago about 3 months ago, and I honestly had no clue about any of this unemployment stuff. Reading through everyone's experiences makes me feel so much more prepared and less anxious about the "what ifs." It's amazing how much the system has adapted to remote work since the pandemic. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their knowledge and actual experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to navigate government websites alone. This community seems like such a valuable resource for people navigating these kinds of employment situations!

As someone who just went through a similar situation, I can confirm everything others have said here! I worked remotely from Westchester for a Boston-based startup and when they had layoffs last month, filing with NYS Department of Labor was completely straightforward. The key thing that helped me was having all my paperwork ready beforehand - pay stubs, employment letter, and the layoff notice from HR. The online application took about 25 minutes and I had my first payment within 2.5 weeks. One small tip: when you get to the section about your work location, be very clear that you worked from your home address in NY. I wrote something like "Remote work performed from home residence" in the additional details section just to be extra clear. The whole process was much smoother than I expected, especially after reading horror stories online about unemployment systems. Don't stress too much about it - you've got this!