How long after you're fired can you file for unemployment - NYS Department of Labor timing question
I got terminated from my job yesterday for what my supervisor called 'performance issues' though I honestly think it was more about budget cuts. I'm pretty shaken up about the whole thing and trying to figure out my next steps. Does anyone know if there's a specific timeframe for when I need to file my unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor? Like, do I need to do it immediately or can I wait a few days to get my head together? I've never been fired before and I'm worried about missing some kind of deadline. The termination was effective immediately so I didn't get any advance notice. Should I file today or is it okay to wait until next week?
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Nia Harris
You should file as soon as possible! There's no specific deadline per se, but your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you were terminated. The sooner you file with NYS Department of Labor, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. You can file online at my.ny.gov or by phone. Don't wait - even if you're not emotionally ready, at least get the claim started.
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Luca Russo
•Thank you, that's really helpful. I was worried there might be some 48-hour rule or something. I'll try to file today then.
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GalaxyGazer
honestly i waited like a week after i got laid off and it was fine, but yeah earlier is better because they make you wait a week anyway before you get anything
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Mateo Sanchez
The key thing is that NYS Department of Labor will ask you about the reason for separation. Since you mentioned it was called 'performance issues,' you might want to be prepared for potential adjudication. They'll investigate terminations for cause to determine if you're eligible. Keep any documentation you have about your job performance or the circumstances around your termination.
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Luca Russo
•Oh no, I didn't think about that. What kind of documentation should I gather? I don't have much because it happened so suddenly.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Any emails about your performance, previous performance reviews, company policies, anything that shows the termination wasn't due to misconduct on your part. If you can demonstrate it was really about budget cuts disguised as performance, that would help your case.
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Aisha Mahmood
I had a really frustrating experience trying to reach NYS Department of Labor when I was dealing with my claim getting stuck in adjudication after my termination. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. It was honestly a lifesaver because I needed to explain my situation to someone who could actually do something about it.
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Ethan Moore
•That's interesting, never heard of that service before. Did it actually help resolve your adjudication issue?
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Aisha Mahmood
•Yeah, once I got through to an agent they were able to explain exactly what documents they needed for my case and it got resolved much faster than if I'd kept trying to call on my own.
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Yuki Kobayashi
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU JUMP THROUGH HOOPS! They don't care if you file today or next week - they're going to make you wait and question everything anyway. But definitely don't wait too long because they love finding reasons to deny claims. Performance issues = they're going to assume you did something wrong until you prove otherwise.
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Carmen Vega
Just went through this myself a few months ago. Filed the day after I was let go and it took about 3 weeks to get my first payment. The whole process is stressful but manageable if you stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.
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