First time filing for unemployment benefits - how does the whole NYS Department of Labor process actually work?

Don't feel stupid at all! The unemployment system is confusing even for people who've used it before. Here's the basic process: First you file your initial claim with NYS Department of Labor online or by phone. They'll determine if you qualify and how much your weekly benefit will be (usually about half your average weekly wages up to a maximum). Then every week you have to file a weekly claim certifying that you're still unemployed and looking for work. You have to meet job search requirements too - typically 3 job contacts per week that you have to log. The whole process takes about 2-3 weeks before you see your first payment if everything goes smoothly.

The weekly claims are super important - if you miss filing for a week you can lose that week's benefits permanently in most cases. You file them online through the NYS Department of Labor website, usually takes about 10 minutes. They ask questions like did you work at all that week, did you look for work, are you able and available to work, etc. Just be honest with your answers. Also make sure you're keeping a job search log because they can audit you at any time and ask for proof of your job search activities.

I've been dealing with unemployment on and off for years and honestly the whole system is set up to trip you up. They make the process intentionally confusing with all these rules and requirements that change randomly. Like now they want 3 job contacts per week but it used to be different. And don't even get me started on trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor when you have questions - good luck getting through on the phone! The whole thing is designed to deny as many people as possible.

To answer your question about job search audits - yes they absolutely can and do ask for documentation. You need to keep records of where you applied, when you applied, what type of position it was, and contact information. I recommend keeping a spreadsheet or using their online job search log if they have one. The 3 job contacts per week requirement is current as of 2025 and includes things like submitting applications, attending job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews.

One more thing - if you have trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone for questions about your claim, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and couldn't get through the regular phone lines. Pretty straightforward and actually got me connected to an agent who could help resolve my issue.