How late can you apply for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - missed my job end date by 2 months

You can still apply! NYS Department of Labor allows you to file a claim up to one year after your job separation date. However, they typically only backdate benefits for up to 4 weeks from when you actually file your application. So you won't get benefits for October through December, but you can still get approved for ongoing weekly benefits starting from when you file. The key thing is to apply as soon as possible since each week you wait is another week of potential benefits lost.

wait I thought there was a strict deadline for filing UI claims? I applied like 3 days after I got laid off because someone told me you had to do it immediately or you lose your eligibility completely

The bigger issue might be proving you're eligible if you were fired. NYS Department of Labor will want to know the circumstances of your termination during the adjudication process. If it was for misconduct, you could be disqualified entirely. But if it was for performance issues or something beyond your control, you should be fine. Just be honest on your application about why you left the job.

I had the same situation last year - waited almost 3 months to apply because I didn't know I could get UI after being fired. The application process was still the same, but I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to check my claim status. If you run into issues reaching them, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me from sitting on hold for hours when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

Just apply already! The worst they can say is no. I've seen people get approved for claims filed months after job loss. The NYS Department of Labor system is confusing but they don't penalize you just for applying late. You're overthinking this.

I'm dealing with something similar but I voluntarily quit my job in November. Should I even bother applying or is that an automatic disqualification? I quit because my hours were cut to almost nothing and I couldn't afford to stay.

I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. You're absolutely right to apply now even though it's been a couple months. NYS Department of Labor is pretty forgiving with late applications - the one year filing window gives people flexibility for situations exactly like yours. Since you were fired rather than laid off, make sure you have any documentation about the circumstances ready in case they request it during the adjudication process. The fact that you didn't think you qualified initially is actually a common reason people cite for delayed filing, and the department understands that the eligibility rules aren't always clear to applicants. Good luck with your application!

I was in a very similar situation - got fired in September but didn't apply until December because I thought being terminated disqualified me automatically. Turns out that's a huge misconception! The NYS Department of Labor actually approved my claim after adjudication because my firing was due to a restructuring situation, not misconduct. The hardest part was just getting started with the application on ny.gov, but once I did it was pretty straightforward. You definitely won't get those October-December weeks back, but don't let that stop you from filing now. Every week you delay is another week of potential benefits lost going forward. I'd also recommend keeping detailed notes about your termination circumstances since they'll likely ask follow-up questions during the review process.