Can you still file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor in 2025?
I lost my job last week and I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits right now? I heard there were changes after COVID but I'm not sure what's still available. My company laid off about 15 people and I worked there for almost 3 years. Is the NYS Department of Labor still accepting new claims or did something change? I tried looking on their website but it's confusing and I want to make sure I don't miss any deadlines.
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Gabriel Freeman
Yes, you can absolutely still file for unemployment benefits! The regular UI program never stopped. You should file your initial claim as soon as possible since benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job. Go to my.ny.gov and look for the unemployment services section. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months.
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Debra Bai
•Thank you! Do I need to wait until I get my final paycheck or can I file right away?
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Laura Lopez
File immediately! Don't wait for your final check. The NYS Department of Labor will ask about any severance or final pay when you file your weekly claims. I made the mistake of waiting when I got laid off and lost out on a week of benefits.
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Victoria Brown
•same thing happened to me, definitely file asap
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Samuel Robinson
The system is still running but honestly it's such a pain to get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor if you have issues. I've been trying to call them for weeks about my claim being stuck in adjudication and can never get through. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through they just hang up on you after being on hold forever.
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Camila Castillo
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor until someone told me about this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It actually got me through to someone in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own.
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Brianna Muhammad
wait so the pandemic unemployment is over?? I thought there were still extra programs available
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Gabriel Freeman
•The pandemic programs like PUA and PEUC ended in 2021. Now it's just regular unemployment insurance, but that's what most people qualify for anyway if they had traditional employment.
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JaylinCharles
Just remember you'll need to do the job search requirements now too. I think it's 3 job search activities per week and you have to keep a log. The NYS Department of Labor website has all the details about what counts as a valid job search activity.
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Debra Bai
•Good to know, thanks! I'll make sure to start tracking that right away.
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