How long after being let go can I file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
Just got terminated from my warehouse job yesterday and I'm panicking about bills. My supervisor said it was due to restructuring but I'm not sure if that matters. How soon can I actually file my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor? I heard there's some kind of waiting period but I really need to get this process started ASAP. Also should I wait to file or do it immediately? I'm worried about messing something up if I rush it.
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Angel Campbell
You can file your UI claim immediately! There's no waiting period to actually submit your application with NYS Department of Labor. In fact, you should file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts the week you file, not the week you lost your job. The one-week waiting period happens after you file - you won't get paid for your first eligible week, but you still need to file that weekly claim to establish your claim.
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TommyKapitz
•Thank you! So I should go ahead and file today then? I was worried I needed to wait until next week or something.
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Payton Black
yeah definitely file right away, I made the mistake of waiting like 2 weeks thinking I needed some cooling off period or whatever and it just delayed everything unnecessarily
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Harold Oh
File immediately through my.ny.gov - the system is available 24/7. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your employer's information. Since you mentioned restructuring, that should qualify as a layoff which is good for your claim. Make sure you have accurate dates and don't guess on anything.
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Amun-Ra Azra
•What if you don't have all your employment history from 18 months ago? I switched jobs a few times and can't remember exact dates for one of them.
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Harold Oh
•NYS Department of Labor will verify your wages through their database, but you should try to be as accurate as possible. Check old tax documents or contact previous employers if needed. Incorrect information can delay your claim processing.
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Summer Green
I was in a similar situation last year - got laid off from manufacturing and filed the same day. The whole process took about 2 weeks before I saw my first payment, but that included the one-week waiting period. The key is filing your weekly claims every week even during adjudication. Don't skip any weeks or you'll lose those benefits permanently.
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TommyKapitz
•How do the weekly claims work exactly? Do I just log in every week and answer questions?
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Summer Green
•Yes, you log into my.ny.gov every week and answer questions about your job search activities, any work you did, and any income you received. It takes like 5 minutes once you get used to it.
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Gael Robinson
Just want to add that if you have trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone (and you probably will), there's a service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that can help you reach an actual agent. I used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and couldn't get through the regular phone lines. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me weeks of frustration.
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Payton Black
•how much does something like that cost though? seems like you shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to unemployment
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Gael Robinson
•I was frustrated about that too initially, but when you're dealing with delayed benefits it's worth it to actually reach someone who can help resolve issues quickly.
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Edward McBride
The NYS Department of Labor system is such a nightmare to deal with. I filed immediately when I got laid off but still had issues for weeks because of some random adjudication hold. They don't tell you what's wrong, they don't return calls, it's absolutely ridiculous. But yeah definitely file right away because delaying it just makes everything worse.
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Dylan Campbell
Just to echo what everyone else is saying - absolutely file today! I was in your exact situation about 6 months ago (warehouse layoff due to "restructuring") and I filed the same day I got the news. The NYS system lets you file online 24/7 at my.ny.gov and it's actually pretty straightforward. Make sure you have your last employer's info handy including their unemployment insurance account number if you have it (might be on your termination paperwork). The worst thing you can do is wait - every day you delay is potentially money lost since your benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job. You've got this!
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