How long after being laid off can I file for NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
My company just announced layoffs and I'm going to be let go next Friday. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm not sure about the timing. Should I wait until my last day of work to file my claim with NYS Department of Labor, or can I file beforehand? I heard there might be a waiting period but I'm confused about when exactly I'm supposed to start the process. I really need to get this right because I have bills to pay and can't afford any delays.
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Ethan Moore
You can file your unemployment claim the day after your last day of work. Don't file before then because you're still employed. The NYS Department of Labor processes claims pretty quickly now, but there's a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits. Make sure you have all your employment info ready - dates, employer address, reason for separation.
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Aisha Ali
•Thank you! So if my last day is Friday, I should file on Saturday? And what do you mean by waiting period - does that mean I won't get paid for the first week?
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Yuki Nakamura
Actually you should file as soon as possible after your last day of work because your benefit year starts when you file, not when you were laid off. I made the mistake of waiting two weeks after my layoff and basically lost those weeks of potential benefits.
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Aisha Ali
•Oh no, that's exactly what I was worried about! So the sooner I file after my last day, the better?
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Ethan Moore
•Yes, file immediately. The waiting week is just the first week you claim - you won't get paid for it but you still need to certify for that week to establish your claim.
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StarSurfer
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to ask questions about my claim timing. The phone lines are always busy and their website chat never worked for me. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to verify my filing was processed correctly.
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Aisha Ali
•Thanks, I'll check that out! I'm definitely going to have questions once I file and it sounds like getting through normally is a nightmare.
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Carmen Reyes
just file asap after your last day of work!! i waited like 3 days and regretted it. also make sure you have your social security card and ID ready
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Andre Moreau
One important thing - if you receive any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start. Severance is considered wages in NY so it could delay your eligibility. Make sure to report any severance when you file your initial claim so there are no issues later.
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Aisha Ali
•I am getting two weeks severance pay. Does that mean I have to wait two weeks before I can even file, or just that I won't get benefits for those two weeks?
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Andre Moreau
•You can still file right away, but you'll need to report the severance and it will likely make you ineligible for benefits during the weeks it covers. Better to file and have the claim established though.
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Marina Hendrix
I went through this exact situation last year. File your claim the Monday after your last day of work - don't wait any longer than that! The NYS DOL website lets you file 24/7 online which is way easier than calling. You'll need your employer's full business name and address, your employment dates, and your Social Security number. The one-week waiting period means you won't get paid for your first week of benefits, but you still need to certify for it. Also keep records of everything - save confirmation numbers and print out your claim summary. Good luck with everything!
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