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.
13 comments
Join the conversation
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.
0 coins
Ravi Choudhury
AuthorSo 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?
0 coins
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.
0 coins
CosmicCadet
Wait so they can go back further than the base period? I thought it was just those 4 quarters for everything
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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?
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Anastasia Popova
How much does that cost? Seems like something that should be free
0 coins
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.
0 coins
Sean Flanagan
just be honest about everything, they're gonna find out anyway through the computer systems these days
0 coins
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.
0 coins
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.
0 coins