How does unemployment insurance work in NY - confused about the whole process
I just got laid off from my job at a marketing firm and I'm totally lost about how unemployment insurance works. I've never filed for benefits before and honestly don't even know where to start. Do I apply right away? How much money can I get? How long does it take? I keep seeing references to NYS Department of Labor and weekly claims but I have no idea what any of this means. Can someone explain the basics of how unemployment insurance actually works in New York? I'm really stressed about paying my rent next month.
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Elin Robinson
Don't panic! The unemployment insurance system in NY is designed to help people in your exact situation. Here's the basic process: First, you file your initial claim on the my.ny.gov website as soon as possible after your last day of work. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. The NYS Department of Labor will review your application and determine your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings history. You'll then need to file weekly claims every week to certify that you're still unemployed and actively looking for work. The whole process usually takes 2-3 weeks from filing to receiving your first payment.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•Thank you so much! This is really helpful. Do I need to wait until my last paycheck clears before I apply?
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Atticus Domingo
No, don't wait for your paycheck to clear. File immediately - there's a waiting week anyway so the sooner you file the better. The benefit amount is typically around 50% of your average weekly wage up to a maximum of $504 per week in 2025. You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases. Just make sure you meet the job search requirements - you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your search activities.
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Beth Ford
•Actually I think the job search requirement is more flexible now, especially if you're in certain industries. But definitely keep track of everything you do.
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Morita Montoya
honestly the whole system is a nightmare to navigate, i've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about an issue with my claim and its impossible. the phone lines are always busy and when you do get through they just hang up on you. good luck with that!
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Kingston Bellamy
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor agents until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual person. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get my adjudication issue resolved.
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Morita Montoya
•really?? that actually works? might have to try that because this is ridiculous
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Joy Olmedo
Wait I'm confused about something - what's the difference between regular unemployment and standby? My company said they might call me back in a few months but I'm not sure if that changes anything about how I apply.
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Elin Robinson
•Good question! Standby status is for temporary layoffs where you expect to return to your job within a specific timeframe. Regular UI is for permanent separations. Since your company mentioned 'might' call you back, you'd probably file for regular unemployment benefits. If they give you a definite recall date within 8 weeks, then standby might apply.
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Isaiah Cross
Been there! The hardest part is just getting started honestly. Once you get into the rhythm of filing your weekly claims it becomes routine.
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Harold Oh
Just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in your situation - make sure you have all your employer information ready before you start the application. You'll need things like your employer's full business name, address, phone number, and the dates you worked there. Also gather your pay stubs from the last few months if you have them. Having everything organized beforehand makes the online application process much smoother. The my.ny.gov site can be a bit slow sometimes, so don't get discouraged if it takes a while to load pages. And remember, even though you're stressed about rent, try to be patient with the process - it really does work once you get through the initial setup!
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