Complete guide - what do I need to know about unemployment benefits in NY?
I just got laid off from my retail job last week and I'm completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the unemployment system. I've never had to deal with this before and I honestly don't even know where to start. What are the most important things I need to know about unemployment benefits? Like what's the process, how much can I expect to get, how long does it take? I keep seeing people mention NYS Department of Labor and weekly claims but I have no idea what any of that means. Any help would be really appreciated because I'm starting to panic about my bills.
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LordCommander
First, take a deep breath - the process isn't as scary as it seems once you understand it. You'll need to file your initial claim through the NYS Department of Labor website (labor.ny.gov). Make sure you have your Social Security number, last employer's information, and employment dates ready. After your initial claim is filed, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. Your benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings history, typically around 50% of your average weekly wage up to the state maximum.
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Jayden Hill
•Thank you! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after being laid off to file, or should I do it right away?
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Lucy Lam
File immediately! There's a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits, but the sooner you file, the sooner that waiting period starts. You'll also need to register for work search activities - NY requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your search efforts. Don't skip this part because they do check and can disqualify you if you're not actively looking for work.
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Jayden Hill
•What counts as a job contact? Does applying online count or does it have to be something more formal?
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LordCommander
•Online applications definitely count! You can also include networking contacts, job fairs, interviews, and even reaching out to staffing agencies. Just keep detailed records of each contact with dates and company names.
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Aidan Hudson
ugh the whole system is so confusing and they make it deliberately hard to navigate. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and half the time their website doesn't even work properly. Good luck getting anyone on the phone if you run into problems - you'll be on hold for hours only to get disconnected.
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Zoe Wang
•I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a real NYS Department of Labor agent when I was stuck in adjudication hell for weeks. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.
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Connor Richards
One thing nobody mentions is that your first payment can take 2-3 weeks even after your claim is approved. Make sure you have some money saved or a backup plan because that initial wait can be rough when you're already stressed about losing your job.
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Jayden Hill
•Oh no, I wasn't expecting that long of a wait. Is there anything that can speed up the process?
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Grace Durand
Also be prepared for the possibility of adjudication if there's anything unusual about your termination. If your employer contests your claim or if there are questions about why you left, your claim goes into adjudication status where they investigate further. This can add weeks to the process unfortunately.
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Jayden Hill
•What would cause my employer to contest it? I was laid off due to store closure, so that should be straightforward, right?
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LordCommander
•Store closure is typically the most straightforward type of claim - that's considered a lack of work situation which qualifies you for benefits. Your employer probably won't contest that since it's clearly not your fault.
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Steven Adams
same boat here, got laid off last month and still figuring this all out. the weekly claims thing is super important - you have to do it every single week even if you haven't gotten approved yet or you lose those weeks permanently
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