Do I have to apply for unemployment right away after losing my job in New York?
Just got laid off yesterday from my warehouse job and I'm not sure if I need to file for unemployment benefits immediately or if I can wait a few days to get my paperwork together. My supervisor said something about timing being important but I'm stressed and wasn't really listening. Can I take some time to figure things out or do I need to apply for NYS Department of Labor benefits right away? I've never been through this before and don't want to mess up my eligibility.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
You should file as soon as possible! NYS Department of Labor doesn't pay benefits for the week you file, only for weeks after. So if you wait, you're basically giving up money. The sooner you file, the sooner your weekly benefit period starts. You can always gather additional documents later if needed.
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Esteban Tate
•Thanks! I didn't realize I'd lose money by waiting. I'll start the application tonight.
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Elin Robinson
File ASAP but don't stress too much about having everything perfect. You need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info from the last 18 months. The NYS Department of Labor system will walk you through it step by step. The key thing is getting your claim started - you can always provide additional documentation later if they need it during adjudication.
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Atticus Domingo
•This is good advice. I waited almost a week thinking I needed pay stubs and stuff but you can upload those later if needed.
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Beth Ford
omg yes file immediately!! i waited like 10 days because i was embarrassed and lost out on almost $600. the nys department of labor doesnt backdate claims unless you have a really good reason
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Esteban Tate
•Wow that's a lot of money to lose. I definitely don't want that to happen to me.
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Morita Montoya
If you're having trouble getting through on the NYS Department of Labor website or phone lines, try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an actual agent when I was stuck in the application process. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than trying to call repeatedly.
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Kingston Bellamy
•Never heard of this but might be worth trying if the regular lines are jammed up again.
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Joy Olmedo
The system is so confusing though! Like what if I put the wrong information and it messes up my whole claim? I've been putting off filing for 3 days because I'm terrified of making a mistake that will disqualify me permanently.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•Mistakes can usually be corrected during the adjudication process. The bigger mistake is not filing at all and losing weeks of benefits.
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Atticus Domingo
Yeah definitely file right away. I think there's like a 1 week waiting period too so you want to get that clock started as soon as possible after your last day of work.
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