How long before I can claim unemployment after losing my job in NY?
Lost my job yesterday and wondering how soon I can file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor. My supervisor said I was laid off due to budget cuts, not fired for cause. I've been working there for about 8 months full-time. Do I need to wait a certain period before I can submit my claim? Also heard there might be a waiting week - is that still a thing? Really stressed about paying rent next month so any info would be helpful.
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Lucas Turner
You can file your unemployment claim immediately - don't wait! NYS Department of Labor actually recommends filing your UI claim the week you become unemployed or have your hours reduced. There's no waiting period to file. The key is to file as soon as possible because benefits are paid from the date you file, not from when you lost your job. You'll need your employer information, Social Security number, and details about why you're unemployed.
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Eleanor Foster
•Thank you! Should I file online or call? I tried looking at the my.ny.gov website but got a bit overwhelmed with all the forms.
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Kai Rivera
File online through my.ny.gov if possible - it's faster than calling. Make sure you have your last employer's FEIN number (federal employer ID) and exact dates of employment. Since you worked 8 months full-time, you should meet the base period requirements. The system will calculate your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings from the past 4 quarters.
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Anna Stewart
•This is good advice. I filed online last year and it was pretty straightforward once I had all my employment info ready.
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Layla Sanders
ugh the waiting is the worst part honestly... when i got laid off last year it felt like forever before i saw any money even though i filed right away. make sure you do your weekly claims too or you'll lose benefits
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Lucas Turner
•Just to clarify - NY eliminated the unpaid waiting week in 2020, so you should receive benefits for your first eligible week if your claim is approved.
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Morgan Washington
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I used a service called Claimyr recently - claimyr.com. They helped me get connected to an actual agent when I couldn't reach anyone for weeks about my adjudication issue. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call over and over.
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Eleanor Foster
•Interesting, never heard of that. Did it actually work for you? I'm worried about giving my info to third parties.
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Morgan Washington
•Yeah it worked great for me. You don't give them any personal unemployment info - they just help you get through the phone queue to reach NYS Department of Labor directly.
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Kaylee Cook
The whole system is so confusing! I've been putting off filing because I wasn't sure if being laid off vs fired makes a difference. Does it matter for eligibility? Also do I need to be actively looking for work immediately or can I take a few weeks to figure things out?
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Lucas Turner
•Being laid off due to budget cuts should qualify you for benefits. You do need to be able, available, and actively seeking work to continue receiving benefits. NYS requires you to make job search contacts and keep a log, but you can start that requirement immediately when you begin claiming.
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Oliver Alexander
same boat here, got let go two weeks ago and finally filed my claim yesterday. wish someone told me sooner not to wait! the online application wasn't as bad as i thought it would be
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StarStrider
Don't stress too much about the process - you're doing the right thing by filing immediately! Since you were laid off due to budget cuts (not misconduct), you should definitely qualify. One tip that helped me when I was in your situation: gather all your employment documents before you start the online application - pay stubs, your termination letter if you have one, and your employer's contact info. The my.ny.gov site will walk you through each step. Also, once you file, you'll need to certify for benefits every week (usually Sunday-Saturday), so mark your calendar. The first payment typically comes within 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. Hang in there!
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