Do I need a termination letter for unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor?
I got laid off from my warehouse job last week and I'm trying to file for unemployment benefits. My supervisor just told me verbally that they were letting me go due to budget cuts, but I never received any official termination letter or paperwork. When I started filling out the NYS Department of Labor application online, there's sections asking about my separation from employment. Do I absolutely need some kind of written termination letter to file my claim? I'm worried they might deny my benefits if I don't have the right documentation. Has anyone filed successfully without formal termination paperwork?
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Callum Savage
You don't need a termination letter to file for unemployment in New York. The NYS Department of Labor will contact your employer directly to verify the reason for your separation. Just be honest about the circumstances when you file your claim - that you were laid off due to budget cuts. Make sure you have your employer's contact information and your last day of work. The online application will walk you through everything you need to provide.
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Landon Flounder
•Thanks! That's a relief. I was panicking thinking I needed official paperwork. Should I mention that it was a verbal notification in my application?
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Ally Tailer
i filed without any letter last year when my restaurant closed down suddenly. they just asked me questions about what happened and my boss confirmed it when unemployment called them. took about 2 weeks to get approved
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Aliyah Debovski
While you don't need a termination letter to file, it's still worth asking your employer for some kind of written documentation for your own records. Even a simple email confirming your last day and the reason for separation can be helpful if there are any disputes later. The NYS Department of Labor has a separation notice form (IA 12.3) that employers are supposed to provide, but many don't know about it or forget to give it out.
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Landon Flounder
•I'll ask HR tomorrow if they can send me an email or something. Better to have it just in case.
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Miranda Singer
Had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim got held up because my employer gave them a different story than what I reported. Spent weeks trying to call them during their crazy busy hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at unemployment. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to reach someone to straighten out the confusion.
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Cass Green
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money while waiting for benefits.
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Miranda Singer
•They focus more on the convenience than the cost from what I remember. For me it was worth it because I was losing sleep over not being able to reach anyone at NYS Department of Labor for almost a month.
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Finley Garrett
ugh the whole system is so confusing... why can't they just make it simple?? like if you lose your job you should automatically get benefits without jumping through all these hoops
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Dylan Cooper
I completely understand the frustration @Finley! The process can definitely feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with job loss stress. Just remember that these verification steps exist to protect the system and ensure benefits go to people who truly qualify. The good news is that once you get through the initial filing, the weekly certifications are much simpler. Hang in there - it does get easier after the first hurdle!
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Alice Fleming
•@Dylan totally agree! I went through this process a few months ago and it really does get smoother once you're past the initial setup. @Finley the weekly certifications literally take like 5 minutes once you get the hang of it. The hardest part is just that first application and waiting for approval. But honestly, having these checks in place probably helps everyone get their benefits faster in the long run because it prevents fraud that could slow down the whole system.
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Shelby Bauman
Just went through this exact situation a couple months ago when my manufacturing plant shut down. You definitely don't need a termination letter - I filed my claim the same day I got laid off and only had verbal notice too. The NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty efficient about verifying everything with my former employer. One tip though: make sure you file as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get retroactive payments for weeks you didn't file. The online system walks you through everything step by step, and as long as you're honest about the layoff circumstances, you should be fine. Good luck!
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Sarah Jones
•@Shelby that's really helpful to know! I didn't realize there was a waiting period - I was planning to wait a few days to get my paperwork together but sounds like I should file right away. Did you have any issues with the verification process when your employer confirmed the layoff details?
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Amina Bah
Just to add another perspective - I was in a similar situation last month when my retail job ended due to "restructuring" (basically they eliminated my position). Like others said, you absolutely don't need a termination letter. The NYS DOL system is actually designed to handle situations where people get verbal notice or sudden layoffs. When I filed online, I just selected "laid off" as the reason and wrote a brief explanation in the comments section about the budget cuts. They processed my claim without any issues. The key is filing quickly and being completely honest about what happened. Don't stress about the lack of paperwork - it's more common than you think!
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