Has anyone here actually claimed unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? Looking for real experiences
I'm curious about what it's really like to go through the NYS Department of Labor unemployment process. I might need to file soon and honestly I'm pretty nervous about it. Have any of you or someone you know actually gone through claiming unemployment benefits in New York? What was the whole experience like from start to finish? Was it as complicated as everyone says? I keep hearing horror stories about people waiting months for their claims to get approved or getting stuck in adjudication forever. Just want to know what I might be getting into.
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Genevieve Cavalier
I went through it last year when my company downsized. The initial filing wasn't too bad - took about 45 minutes online. The tricky part is making sure you have all your employment history accurate because any discrepancy can trigger adjudication. Once approved though, the weekly claims are pretty straightforward. You just have to be religious about filing every Sunday and keeping track of your job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor requires 3 job contacts per week which is actually not that hard if you're actively looking.
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Zane Hernandez
•That's helpful, thanks! What do you mean by job contacts exactly? Like applications or just reaching out to companies?
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Genevieve Cavalier
•Applications, networking calls, career fairs, even informational interviews count. They want documented proof so keep a log with dates, company names, and contact methods.
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Ethan Scott
my experience was TERRIBLE. filed in march and didn't see a penny until july because they kept asking for more documentation. every time i submitted what they wanted, they'd ask for something else. the phone system is a joke - you'll spend hours trying to get through just to be told to submit another form online.
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Zane Hernandez
•Oh god that sounds awful. What kind of documentation were they asking for?
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Ethan Scott
•pay stubs, separation letter, then they wanted my old tax returns because i had freelance income two years ago. just be prepared for the runaround.
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Lola Perez
The system has actually improved a lot since 2023. Most straightforward cases get processed within 2-3 weeks now. The key is being completely accurate on your initial application and responding quickly to any requests for information. If you do end up needing to contact NYS Department of Labor and can't get through on the phone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me probably 20 hours of trying to call myself.
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Nathaniel Stewart
•Wait really? How does that work? Do they just call for you or something?
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Lola Perez
•Yeah they handle the calling process and get you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor representative. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Riya Sharma
I helped my sister file hers last month and it was pretty smooth actually. The my.ny.gov website walks you through everything step by step. Just make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info from the last 18 months ready before you start.
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Santiago Diaz
honestly the worst part is the waiting and not knowing whats happening with your claim. like you file and then its just radio silence for weeks. at least when i finally got approved the back pay came all at once which helped with bills that had piled up
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Zane Hernandez
•How long did you end up waiting? And did they give you any updates during that time?
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Santiago Diaz
•about 5 weeks total. only update was when my claim status changed from pending to approved on the website. no emails or calls or anything
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