How can I apply for unemployment online through NYS Department of Labor website?
Lost my job yesterday after the restaurant I worked at for 2 years suddenly closed down. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm hearing I need to do it online now? Can someone walk me through how to apply for unemployment online with NYS Department of Labor? I tried looking at their website but it's confusing and I don't want to mess anything up. Do I need to have specific documents ready before I start the application?
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Emily Jackson
You'll need to go to labor.ny.gov and create an account first. Have your Social Security number, driver's license, and last employer information ready including their address and your dates of employment. The online application asks for your work history for the past 18 months so gather that info too. You can apply for unemployment online 24/7 once you have an account set up.
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Andre Laurent
•Thank you! Do I need to know my exact wages or just approximate amounts from each employer?
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Liam Mendez
I just went through this process last month. The NYS Department of Labor online system is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Make sure you apply within the first week after losing your job though - there can be delays if you wait too long. The hardest part for me was remembering all my previous employers' exact addresses.
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Sophia Nguyen
•You can look up employer addresses on Google Maps if you can't remember exactly. The system is pretty forgiving about minor address details as long as you get the company name and general location right.
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Jacob Smithson
Be prepared for the website to be slow sometimes, especially on Mondays when everyone's trying to file their weekly claims. I had to try three times before I could complete my initial application because the site kept timing out. Also make sure you remember your login info because getting locked out is a nightmare.
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Andre Laurent
•Oh no, what happens if you get locked out? Is there a way to reset it easily?
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Jacob Smithson
•You have to call their tech support line and it's always busy. Took me 2 days to get back in. Write down your username and password somewhere safe!
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Isabella Brown
I've been trying to reach NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status and their phone lines are impossible. If you're having trouble getting through to an agent, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected within minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
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Maya Patel
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they charge you anything for connecting you?
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Isabella Brown
•They do charge but honestly it was worth it to finally talk to someone real instead of sitting on hold for hours. Much less stressful than the regular phone system.
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Aiden Rodríguez
just apply asap dont overthink it the system walks you thru everything step by step
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Emma Wilson
Sorry to hear about your restaurant closing down @Andre. One thing to add that others haven't mentioned - when you're filling out the application online, make sure you have your bank account info ready if you want direct deposit (routing and account numbers). It's much faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail. Also, the system will ask why you're unemployed - since your workplace closed, that should be straightforward, but if they ask for any documentation later, try to get something in writing from your former employer about the closure if possible. The online system usually processes applications pretty quickly once everything is submitted correctly.
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