Can you get unemployment for being laid off from your job in New York?
I just got laid off from my warehouse job yesterday after 2 years and I'm wondering if I can apply for unemployment benefits? My supervisor said it was due to company restructuring and they're eliminating my position. I've never been fired or anything like that, just lost my job through no fault of my own. Does anyone know if being laid off qualifies you for NYS Department of Labor unemployment? What do I need to do to apply?
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Justin Trejo
Yes, being laid off definitely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in New York! Since you lost your job through no fault of your own due to company restructuring, you should be eligible. You'll need to file your claim online through the NYS Department of Labor website as soon as possible. Make sure you have your social security number, driver's license, and employment information for the past 18 months ready when you apply.
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Marina Hendrix
•Thank you so much! I was worried I wouldn't qualify. Should I file right away or wait a few days?
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Alana Willis
File immediately! Don't wait at all. Your benefit year starts the week you file your claim, not when you lost your job. Go to the NY.gov unemployment portal and complete the application. You'll also need to start filing weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed by NYS Department of Labor.
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Tyler Murphy
•This is correct - I made the mistake of waiting a week before filing and lost out on that week's benefits.
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Sara Unger
ugh the whole system is such a pain though... took me forever to get through when I got laid off last year
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Butch Sledgehammer
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone when I needed to check on my claim status after getting laid off. Kept getting busy signals and getting hung up on. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier when I needed to verify my job separation details.
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Marina Hendrix
•Good to know there are options if I run into problems reaching them. Hopefully I won't need it but I'll keep that in mind.
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Freya Ross
Make sure you understand the job search requirements too! You'll need to keep a log of your job search activities and be able and available for work. The NYS Department of Labor will ask about this when you file your weekly claims.
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