Complete guide - how do i apply for unemployment benefits online through NYS Department of Labor
I lost my job two weeks ago and need to figure out how to apply for unemployment benefits online. I've heard there's a website but I'm not sure where to start or what information I'll need. Has anyone recently gone through the online application process with NYS Department of Labor? What should I have ready before I begin?
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Jade Santiago
You'll need to go to my.ny.gov and create an account if you don't have one already. The actual unemployment application is through the NYS Department of Labor portal there. Make sure you have your social security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also have your bank account info ready if you want direct deposit.
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Lauren Johnson
•Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic employment info?
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Caleb Stone
Basic employment info is usually enough for the initial application, but keep your pay stubs handy in case NYS Department of Labor requests them later during adjudication. The online system will walk you through each step. Just be super accurate with your employment dates and make sure you file within the first week of unemployment or you might lose benefits for that week.
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Daniel Price
•wait what?? I thought you had to wait a week before applying. I've been unemployed for 10 days and haven't filed yet...
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Jade Santiago
•No waiting period to apply! You should file as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a one-week waiting period before you get paid, but you still need to file that first week to establish your claim.
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Olivia Evans
The online application took me about 30 minutes when I did it last month. Just go slow and double-check everything before submitting. Once you submit, you'll get a confirmation number - write that down! Then you have to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. The system will tell you when your weekly claim day is.
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Sophia Bennett
•How long did it take to hear back after you applied?
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Olivia Evans
•I got approved within a week, but some people wait longer if their claim goes into adjudication. Depends on your situation.
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Aiden Chen
ugh the my.ny.gov website is so confusing though. took me forever to find the actual unemployment section and then i kept getting error messages when trying to submit
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Zoey Bianchi
•I had the same problem! The site crashed on me twice during my application. I had to call NYS Department of Labor to finish it over the phone but good luck getting through - the wait times are insane.
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Christopher Morgan
•Actually, if you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone, I used 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. Really saved me hours of being on hold when I needed to check my claim status.
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Aurora St.Pierre
Make sure you have a good reason for leaving your job too. If you quit without good cause or got fired for misconduct, you probably won't qualify. The application will ask about your separation reason and NYS Department of Labor will verify with your employer.
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Lauren Johnson
•I was laid off due to company downsizing, so I think I should be okay on that front.
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