How far back can you claim unemployment benefits in NY - missed filing deadline?
I got laid off from my warehouse job back in September but didn't file for unemployment right away because I thought I'd find work quickly. Now it's been almost 4 months and I'm still unemployed. Can I still file a claim with NYS Department of Labor and get benefits for the time I missed? How far back can you claim unemployment in New York? I'm really kicking myself for not filing sooner but I had no idea the job market would be this tough.
13 comments
Join the conversation
StarSurfer
Unfortunately, you can only backdate your unemployment claim up to 4 weeks from when you file with NYS Department of Labor. Since you've been unemployed for 4 months, you won't be able to get benefits for that entire period. You should still file immediately though - you can get benefits going forward as long as you meet the weekly requirements.
0 coins
Dmitry Petrov
•Only 4 weeks?? That's terrible. So I basically lost out on thousands of dollars because I waited too long to file?
0 coins
Ava Martinez
Yeah the 4 week backdate rule is strict in NY. But don't beat yourself up - file your claim TODAY on the my.ny.gov website. You'll need your employment history for the last 18 months, including dates and wages. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start getting weekly benefits. Make sure you have a good reason for the delay when they ask during your claim interview.
0 coins
Miguel Castro
•What counts as a 'good reason' for the delay? I'm in a similar situation where I waited a couple months to file.
0 coins
Ava Martinez
•Good reasons include not knowing you were eligible, misinformation from employer, serious illness, or other circumstances beyond your control. Just expecting to find work quickly usually isn't considered good cause unfortunately.
0 coins
Zainab Abdulrahman
I had a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about backdating my claim. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration dealing with the phone system.
0 coins
Dmitry Petrov
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed for months.
0 coins
Zainab Abdulrahman
•It was worth it for me to get clear answers about my specific situation rather than guessing. Much better than spending days trying to get through on my own.
0 coins
Connor Byrne
this whole system is RIDICULOUS! why should people lose benefits just because they didn't know the arbitrary rules?? the 4 week thing makes no sense when people are genuinely unemployed
0 coins
Yara Elias
•I feel you but that's just how it works. At least OP can still get benefits going forward if they file now.
0 coins
QuantumQuasar
Don't wait any longer OP. Even if you can only get 4 weeks backdated, that's still something. Plus you'll be eligible for benefits going forward. The weekly benefit amount in NY can be up to $504 so every week you delay costs you money. File online at my.ny.gov and start your weekly claims as soon as your claim is processed.
0 coins
Amina Toure
I went through something similar last year - waited about 6 weeks to file thinking I'd land something quickly. The 4 week backdate limit is real and it stings, but here's what I learned: file your claim ASAP and be prepared for the phone interview where they'll ask about the delay. When I explained that I was actively job searching and didn't realize the urgency of filing immediately, they were understanding but still couldn't go beyond the 4 weeks. The good news is once you're approved, the weekly benefits really help while you continue your job search. Also make sure you're meeting the work search requirements - you need to document your job search activities each week. Don't let this delay cost you any more potential benefits!
0 coins
Sean Doyle
•Thanks for sharing your experience @Amina Toure - it s'helpful to hear from someone who went through this. Quick question about the work search requirements - how many job applications do you need to document each week? And do they actually check up on this or is it more of an honor system? I want to make sure I m'doing everything right when I file my claim.
0 coins