Can you sign up for unemployment online with NYS Department of Labor?

Yes, you can absolutely file your unemployment claim online through my.ny.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, employment history for the last 18 months including employer names and addresses, and your most recent pay stub. The online system is available 24/7 so you don't have to worry about office hours. Make sure you file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed because there's a waiting period.

The online application is pretty straightforward but make sure you have bank account info ready if you want direct deposit. Also keep in mind that after you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims online too to keep getting benefits. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to certify every week that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

i filed online last month and it was super easy took like 20 minutes. just make sure you answer all the questions honestly especially about why you left your job

One thing to watch out for - if there are any issues with your claim it might go into adjudication and that can take weeks to resolve. I had trouble reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor when my claim was stuck. Ended up using a 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 that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call the regular number over and over.

Just remember you have to keep looking for work and document your job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor requires proof that you're actively seeking employment. Don't skip this part or you could lose your benefits!

I went through this same process about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my job in Buffalo. The online system through my.ny.gov is definitely the way to go - much faster than trying to call or visit an office. One tip I'd add is to have your W-2 from last year handy too, as they sometimes ask for wage information from previous tax years. Also, make sure you file your claim on Sunday through Thursday if possible - I noticed the website can get really slow on Fridays and weekends when everyone is trying to file their weekly certifications. The whole initial application took me about 30 minutes, and I got my first payment within 2 weeks. Good luck with your claim!

I actually just went through this process a couple weeks ago when I got unexpectedly laid off from my tech job. The online system is definitely your best bet - I was dreading having to deal with government offices but it was surprisingly user-friendly. One thing I wish I had known beforehand is that you should file your claim early in the week if possible, like Monday or Tuesday. I made the mistake of filing on a Friday afternoon and the system was crawling slow. Also, have your direct deposit info ready because getting checks by mail takes forever. The hardest part for me was tracking down exact employment dates for a job I had like 16 months ago - try to dig up old paystubs or tax documents if you can. The whole thing took me about 45 minutes but that included hunting around for paperwork. Once you get through the initial claim, the weekly certifications are pretty quick, maybe 10 minutes each week.

I just went through this exact same process about a month ago after being laid off from my job in Rochester. Definitely go with the online application through my.ny.gov - it's so much easier than trying to get through on the phone. One thing I'd recommend is creating your NY.gov account first before you actually start the unemployment application, because that part can take a few extra minutes and you don't want to lose your progress. Also, if you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, write down all the details beforehand - company names, addresses, supervisor names, exact employment dates, and reason for leaving each job. I made the mistake of starting the application without having all this info ready and had to stop halfway through to look things up. The system will time out if you take too long on any one page. Overall it took me about 35 minutes once I had everything organized, and I received my debit card in the mail about 10 days later. Make sure you opt for direct deposit though - it's much faster than waiting for the debit card to arrive.