How do I fill out unemployment application correctly - NYS Department of Labor first time filer
I just got laid off from my retail job last week and I need to apply for unemployment benefits but I'm completely lost on how to fill out the application. I went to the my.ny.gov website but there's so many questions and I don't want to mess anything up. Do I need my tax forms? What about if I worked two different jobs this year? Also confused about the part that asks about my last day of work vs when I was told I was being laid off. Can someone walk me through the basic steps of how to fill this out properly? I'm really stressed about getting this wrong and delaying my benefits.
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Emma Wilson
Don't stress too much! The NYS Department of Labor application is pretty straightforward once you know what they're looking for. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates worked, and gross wages. For the last day of work question, use the actual last day you worked, not when you were notified. Make sure you have your most recent pay stub handy too since they'll ask about your weekly wages.
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Javier Mendoza
•Thank you! Do I need my W-2 from last year or just recent pay stubs?
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Malik Davis
I just filed mine last month and the key thing is to be accurate with your employment dates and wages. If you worked multiple jobs, list them all in chronological order. The system will calculate your benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter, so make sure those wage amounts are correct. Also, when they ask about availability for work, answer honestly - you need to be able and available to work to qualify.
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Javier Mendoza
•What if I can't remember the exact start date for one of my jobs from 6 months ago?
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Malik Davis
•Try to get as close as possible, they might verify with your employer later so don't just guess wildly. Check old pay stubs or tax documents if you have them.
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Isabella Santos
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I tried filling mine out three times and kept getting error messages. Make sure you save your progress frequently because it times out and you'll lose everything
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Ravi Gupta
I had the same issue with getting through to someone when I had questions about my application. Spent hours on hold with NYS Department of Labor. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to a real person at the unemployment office without all the waiting. They have a video demo showing exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much time when I needed to clarify some details about my application.
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Javier Mendoza
•That sounds helpful, did they charge you for it?
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Ravi Gupta
•Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of sitting on hold for hours. Much faster than trying to get through the regular way.
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GalacticGuru
Just be honest and thorough. I made the mistake of rushing through it and had to deal with adjudication issues later because some of my employment info didn't match what my employer reported.
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