How long before I can apply for unemployment benefits in NY?
Just got laid off yesterday from my job at a warehouse in Queens. My supervisor said it was due to company downsizing and gave me a separation letter. I'm trying to figure out when I can actually file for unemployment benefits - do I need to wait a certain amount of time before applying? I've never been unemployed before so this is all new to me. Should I apply right away or is there like a waiting period? Really stressed about paying my rent next month.
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Andre Laurent
You can apply for unemployment benefits immediately through the NYS Department of Labor website. There's no waiting period to file your initial claim - in fact, you should apply as soon as possible because benefits can only be paid from the date you file, not retroactively to when you lost your job. Go to labor.ny.gov and look for the unemployment insurance section.
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Carmen Diaz
•Thank you! I was worried I had to wait a week or something. Should I gather any documents before I start the application?
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Emily Jackson
Make sure you have your separation letter, last employer's information, and your Social Security number ready. The NYS Department of Labor will need details about your last 18 months of employment too. Don't delay - file today if you can. There IS a one-week waiting period before you receive your first payment, but that waiting period only starts counting after you file your claim.
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Liam Mendez
•Wait, I thought they got rid of the waiting period during COVID? Or did that end?
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Emily Jackson
•The waiting period is back as of 2023. It's one unpaid week before benefits start, but you still need to file your weekly claims during that time.
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Sophia Nguyen
I was in the same situation last year and made the mistake of waiting two weeks before applying because I thought I needed to 'look for work first' or something. Big mistake - lost out on two weeks of benefits because you can't backdate claims. File immediately!
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Jacob Smithson
Just be ready for the NYS Department of Labor phone system to be a nightmare if you need to call them about anything. I've been trying to reach someone for weeks about my claim and can never get through. But yeah, definitely file online right away - that part works fine.
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Isabella Brown
•I had the same problem with calling NYS Department of Labor until someone here told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your claim status.
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Maya Patel
sorry about ur job, that sucks. yeah file asap, dont wait around
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Vera Visnjic
Hey Carmen, really sorry to hear about your job loss - that's always stressful. Everyone's given you good advice about filing immediately, but I wanted to add a couple practical tips: When you apply online, try to do it early in the morning or late at night when the system is less busy. Also, keep copies of everything you submit and screenshot confirmation pages. The NY system can be glitchy sometimes. And don't forget you'll need to certify for benefits every week even during that waiting period. Hang in there - you've got this!
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Harper Collins
•@Vera Visnjic This is really helpful advice! I didn t'think about the system being busy at different times. Quick question - when you say certify "for benefits every week, what" exactly does that mean? Is it like proving I m'still unemployed or something? And do I need to show that I m'actively looking for work right away or can I take a few days to get organized first?
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