How far does unemployment go back when NYS Department of Labor reviews work history?
I'm filling out my initial unemployment claim and wondering how far back the NYS Department of Labor looks at your work history. I've had like 6 different jobs over the past 2 years and some gaps between them. Do I need to list every single job or just recent ones? Also worried because I had a job 18 months ago where I quit without notice - will that affect my current claim even though it was so long ago? The application is asking for employment history but doesn't specify how many years back to go.
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Freya Andersen
NYS Department of Labor typically looks at your base period which is the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So roughly 15-18 months back depending on when you file. You need to report ALL employment during that period, even short-term jobs. The job you quit 18 months ago might be right on the edge of your base period depending on exact dates.
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Ravi Choudhury
•So if I filed in January 2025, they'd look back to like October 2023? That job where I quit would probably be included then. Should I be worried about that affecting my eligibility?
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Omar Farouk
I just went through this process last month. They ask for 2 years of work history on the initial application but for benefit calculations they use the base period like the other person mentioned. However, if there's any issue with your claim they can look further back during adjudication. I had to provide pay stubs going back almost 3 years because they questioned a gap in my employment.
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CosmicCadet
•Wait so they can go back further than the base period? I thought it was just those 4 quarters for everything
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Omar Farouk
•For calculating your weekly benefit amount it's just the base period wages. But if they're investigating whether you quit a job voluntarily or were fired for misconduct, they can look at your entire work history to establish patterns.
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Chloe Harris
OMG this is exactly what I was worried about! I have such a messy work history and keep forgetting jobs from like 2 years ago. What happens if you accidentally leave something out? Do they find out anyway and then think you were trying to hide it on purpose?
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Freya Andersen
•They cross-reference with wage records from employers, so yes they'll likely find out about jobs you don't report. It's better to include everything you can remember and explain any gaps honestly. Leaving things out can look like fraud even if it was an honest mistake.
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Diego Mendoza
Had major issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify this exact question about my work history. Spent weeks calling and either getting busy signals or getting hung up on after waiting 2+ hours. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you through to an actual agent - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent explained my base period dates and which jobs I needed to include. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck on hold.
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Anastasia Popova
•How much does that cost? Seems like something that should be free
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Diego Mendoza
•It's way cheaper than missing out on benefits because you can't get answers. The peace of mind was worth it for me since I was so confused about the work history requirements.
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Sean Flanagan
just be honest about everything, they're gonna find out anyway through the computer systems these days
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CosmicCadet
The whole system is so confusing with all these different time periods and quarters. Why can't they just ask for like the last 2 years of work and be done with it? Having to calculate base periods and figure out which calendar quarters they mean is ridiculous.
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Isaiah Cross
I went through this same situation last year and here's what I learned: definitely include ALL jobs from the past 2 years to be safe, even short-term ones or jobs with gaps. The base period calculation can be confusing but it's better to over-report than under-report. For the job you quit 18 months ago - quitting without notice isn't automatically disqualifying, especially if it's outside your base period. They're more concerned about your most recent job separation and whether you're currently able and available to work. The key is being completely honest on your application. If you're unsure about specific dates or details, it's better to estimate and note that rather than leave things blank. Keep records of everything you submit too.
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Isabella Santos
•This is really helpful advice, thanks! So even though I quit that job 18 months ago without notice, as long as it's not the reason I'm filing now it shouldn't be a big deal? My most recent job ended due to layoffs so that should be fine. I'm just nervous about having so many different jobs in a short period - will they think I'm job-hopping or unreliable? Also, when you say "estimate and note that" - do you mean like write "approximately" next to dates I'm not 100% sure about?
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Cameron Black
•Exactly right on both points! Since your most recent separation was a layoff (which is considered "no fault" of your own), that old job you quit shouldn't impact your current claim eligibility. Job-hopping isn't necessarily a red flag - lots of people have multiple jobs these days, especially in certain industries. And yes, for dates you're unsure about, you can write "approximately [date]" or "around [month/year]" - they understand people don't remember exact start/end dates for every job. The important thing is showing you made a good faith effort to be accurate and complete.
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Jacob Smithson
I just went through this exact same process a few months ago and was really stressed about the work history part too. Here's what I found out - they do look at your base period (those 4 quarters everyone mentioned) for calculating benefits, but you should definitely list everything from the past 2 years on your initial application just to be thorough. I had similar concerns about job gaps and short-term positions, but the representative I spoke with said it's super common these days and they're used to seeing varied work histories. The most important thing is that your MOST RECENT job separation qualifies you - sounds like yours was a layoff which should be fine. As for that job you quit 18 months ago, if it falls outside your base period it likely won't affect your current claim at all. My advice is to gather all your employment records first (W-2s, pay stubs, etc.) before filling out the application so you can be as accurate as possible with dates and wages.
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James Johnson
•This is super reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it! I'm definitely going to take your advice about gathering all my records first - I've been putting off looking for old pay stubs but sounds like it'll save me headaches later. Quick question though - when you say gather employment records, do you need physical copies or are digital/photos okay? Also did you end up needing to provide proof during the application process or just have it ready in case they asked for it later?
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QuantumQuasar
•@Jacob Smithson Thanks for sharing your experience! That s'really helpful to know that varied work histories are common now. I m'curious - when you gathered your employment records beforehand, did you organize them in any particular way? Like chronologically or by employer? And did having everything ready actually speed up the application process, or was it more just for peace of mind in case they had follow-up questions later?
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Luca Russo
•@Jacob Smithson This is exactly what I needed to hear! I ve'been so anxious about my messy work history but you re'right that it s'probably more common than I think. I m'definitely going to follow your advice about gathering records first - I ve'been dreading digging through old paperwork but it sounds like it ll'make the whole process smoother. One quick question - when you mentioned speaking with a representative, was that after you submitted your initial application or were you able to get clarification before filing? I m'trying to decide if I should attempt to call them first or just submit the application with my best effort at complete information.
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