How do I get a unemployment number from NYS Department of Labor?
I just lost my job last week and everyone keeps telling me I need to get an unemployment number to file my claim. I'm totally confused about what this means and where to get it. Do I need to call NYS Department of Labor or can I get it online? I've been looking at the my.ny.gov website but it's not clear what I'm supposed to do first. Is the unemployment number the same thing as my claim number? Really stressed about this and need to get benefits started ASAP.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
The unemployment number you're referring to is your claim confirmation number that you get after filing your initial application online. Go to my.ny.gov and click on unemployment services, then file a new claim. Once you complete the application, you'll get a confirmation number and then your weekly claim will be available to file starting the following Sunday.
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Oliver Schulz
•Thank you! So I don't need to call anyone first, I can just go straight to the website and apply?
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AstroAdventurer
yeah you file online first but be prepared to wait forever for anything to actually happen. my claim sat in adjudication for like 6 weeks before I got paid
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Javier Mendoza
•Six weeks is rough but not unusual unfortunately. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication or you'll lose those weeks permanently.
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Emma Wilson
Just to clarify the process - when you file your initial claim online through my.ny.gov, you'll receive a confirmation number immediately. This isn't your 'unemployment number' per se, but it's proof you filed. Your actual claim number will be assigned once NYS Department of Labor processes your application, usually within a few days. You'll see this in your online account dashboard along with your weekly claim filing schedule.
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Oliver Schulz
•This is really helpful, thank you. Do I need to have all my employment history ready when I file or can I add details later?
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Emma Wilson
•You'll need your employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason you left each job. Have your Social Security card and driver's license ready too.
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Malik Davis
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed help with my claim status. Ended up using this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than spending hours on hold.
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Oliver Schulz
•Interesting, I'll bookmark that in case I run into issues. Hopefully the online filing goes smoothly though.
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Isabella Santos
ugh the whole system is such a mess, good luck getting anyone to actually help you if something goes wrong with your application
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