How and when to file for unemployment - NYS Department of Labor process explained
I've been working at a retail company for 8 months and they just announced layoffs next week. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm honestly pretty lost about the whole process. When exactly should I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor? Do I wait until my last day of work or can I file earlier? Also, what documents do I need to have ready? I heard there's something about job search requirements too but I'm not sure what that means. Any guidance would be really helpful since I need to make sure I do this right the first time.
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Aisha Ali
You should file your unemployment claim as soon as possible after your last day of work, but not before. NYS Department of Labor requires that you be actually unemployed to start a claim. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready. You'll also need your employer's name, address, and the dates you worked there. The job search requirement means you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your search activities.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•Thank you! So I should wait until after my last day? I was worried about missing some deadline. Do I need pay stubs or just the employment dates?
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Ethan Moore
definitely file right away after your last day! i waited like a week when i got laid off and it just delayed everything. you can file online at my.ny.gov which is way easier than calling. just have all your work info ready
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Yuki Nakamura
The key thing people miss is that you need to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits, even if your initial claim is still being processed. Don't wait for approval to start filing weekly claims. Also, make sure your employer coded your separation correctly as a layoff, not a quit or firing, or you might face adjudication delays.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•What happens during adjudication? Should I be worried about that?
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Yuki Nakamura
•Adjudication is when NYS Department of Labor reviews your claim if there are questions about your eligibility. It can take several weeks, but as long as you were laid off through no fault of your own, you should be fine.
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StarSurfer
OMG the NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible! I've been trying to call for weeks about my claim and either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
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Carmen Reyes
•I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to NYS Department of Labor agents. You just enter your info on claimyr.com and they call you back when they connect to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.
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Andre Moreau
Just wanted to add that you should file even if you think you might not qualify. I thought I wouldn't get benefits because I was only at my job for 6 months, but turns out my previous job counted toward my base period. NYS Department of Labor looks at earnings from the past 5 quarters to determine eligibility.
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Zoe Walker
Really helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation and had no idea about the weekly claim filing requirement. One question - do I need to register with the job search system right away too? I've heard there's some kind of online portal where you have to log your job search activities. Also, is there a waiting period before benefits start, or do they begin immediately after filing? Want to make sure I budget accordingly for the transition period.
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