Does applying for unemployment hurt your credit score in New York?
I've been putting off filing for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor because I'm worried it might mess up my credit score. I just got laid off from my marketing job last month and really need the income, but I'm already dealing with some credit card debt and can't afford to make things worse. Does anyone know if applying for unemployment benefits shows up on credit reports or affects your credit in any way? I've heard mixed things and want to make sure before I file my claim.
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Ravi Sharma
No, applying for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor will NOT hurt your credit score at all. Unemployment benefits are not loans or credit - they're insurance benefits you've already paid into through payroll taxes. The credit bureaus don't track unemployment applications or payments. You should definitely file your claim as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting week and you can't get benefits for weeks before you apply.
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Isabella Ferreira
•Thank you so much! That's a huge relief. I was really stressing about this for nothing. Going to file my claim today.
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NebulaNomad
yeah i was worried about the same thing when i filed last year but it doesnt show up anywhere on your credit report, unemployment is totally separate from credit stuff
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Freya Thomsen
Just to add some detail - unemployment benefits are considered earned income that you've already paid into, not government assistance that would require credit checks. The only time unemployment might indirectly affect credit is if you miss payments on existing debts while waiting for your claim to process. Make sure to file your weekly claims on time and keep up with the job search requirements to avoid any payment delays.
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Omar Fawaz
•Wait, how long does it usually take for the first payment to come through? I filed my claim two weeks ago and still haven't gotten anything from NYS Department of Labor.
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Freya Thomsen
•There's typically a one-week waiting period, then it can take 2-3 weeks for the first payment if everything processes smoothly. If your claim is in adjudication for any reason, it can take longer. Check your account on my.ny.gov to see your claim status.
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Chloe Martin
Actually had a really hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim status. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to call myself.
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Diego Rojas
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they charge you for it?
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Chloe Martin
•Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of spending hours trying to get through. Way less stressful than dealing with busy signals all day.
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Anastasia Sokolov
The unemployment system is such a mess though. Like why do they make it so hard to even file a simple claim? I spent THREE HOURS on the phone just trying to get someone to explain why my claim was taking so long.
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StarSeeker
•Same here! The whole process is so confusing and then when you need help you can never reach anyone.
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QuantumQuest
@Isabella Ferreira You're absolutely right to be concerned about protecting your credit, but everyone here is correct - unemployment won't affect it at all! One thing I'd add is to make sure you file your weekly certifications on time once you get approved. Missing those can delay payments, and THAT could indirectly impact your credit if you can't make your other payments. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities since NY requires you to be actively looking for work. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start getting those benefits you've already earned through your work history.
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