How long before eligible for unemployment benefits in NY - timeline confusion
I'm really confused about the waiting period for unemployment benefits in New York. I lost my job last Friday due to company downsizing and I'm trying to figure out when I can actually start receiving payments. I've heard different things - some people say there's a one week waiting period, others say you can get benefits right away if you file immediately. I worked for the same company for 2 years making about $45,000 annually. Does anyone know how long before I'm actually eligible to receive my first unemployment check? I'm worried about paying rent next month if there's a long delay.
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Oliver Zimmermann
In New York, there's no waiting week anymore - they eliminated that back in 2020. You should be eligible to receive benefits for the first week you file your claim as long as you meet all the other requirements. The key is filing your initial claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. Since you worked for 2 years, you definitely meet the work history requirement. Your weekly benefit amount will be based on your earnings, so with $45k annually you're looking at around $350-400 per week depending on your exact quarterly wages.
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Amina Toure
•That's a relief about no waiting week! So if I file my claim today, I could potentially get paid for this current week? How long does it usually take to get the first payment once approved?
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Natasha Volkova
You need to file your claim immediately - don't wait. The NYS Department of Labor processes claims pretty quickly if everything is straightforward. Your first payment usually comes within 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. Make sure you have all your employment information ready including your employer's name, address, and the exact dates you worked. Also be prepared to start filing weekly claims right away even before your first payment comes through.
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Javier Torres
•This is accurate. I filed mine on a Tuesday and got my first payment exactly 2 weeks later via direct deposit. The weekly claims are super important - don't miss those or you'll lose benefits for that week.
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Emma Davis
Wait I thought you had to be unemployed for like a month before you could apply?? I've been putting off filing my claim because someone told me you can't file right away. This is so confusing - the NYS Department of Labor website is horrible to navigate and I can never get through on the phone to ask questions. I lost my job 3 weeks ago and haven't filed anything yet because I thought I had to wait longer.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•No, that's completely wrong! You should file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. You've already missed out on 3 weeks of potential benefits. File your claim TODAY - you can backdate it to when you actually became unemployed but there might be complications. Don't wait any longer!
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CosmicCaptain
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, you might want to check out claimyr.com - they have a service that helps people get connected to actual agents instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used it last month when I couldn't get through about my adjudication issue and it saved me hours of calling.
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Malik Johnson
just file it online dont overthink it
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Isabella Ferreira
The whole system is a mess honestly. I filed my claim 6 months ago and STILL dealing with issues. They make it sound easy but then your claim gets stuck in adjudication for weeks with no explanation. The NYS Department of Labor is understaffed and overwhelmed. Good luck getting anyone on the phone who actually knows what they're talking about. Half the time they give you different information depending on who you talk to.
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Amina Toure
•That's really discouraging to hear. I was hoping to avoid complications since my situation seems pretty straightforward - just a regular layoff with no fault on my part.
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Zara Mirza
•@Amina Toure Don t'let that scare you too much! While some people do have complications, straightforward layoff cases like yours usually process smoothly. Since you have clear employment history and it was a company downsizing not (misconduct ,)you should be fine. The key is being completely honest and accurate when filling out your application. Keep all your documentation handy just in case, but most routine claims go through without major issues.
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Salim Nasir
I went through this exact same situation last year when I got laid off from my job in Albany. The good news is that NY really did eliminate the waiting week, so you can get benefits starting from your first week of unemployment. I filed my claim on a Wednesday and got my first payment 2.5 weeks later. The most important thing is to file your initial claim ASAP - you can do it online at labor.ny.gov. With your salary of $45k, you should qualify for a decent weekly benefit amount. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications even while waiting for approval, and don't forget to report any part-time work or income. The process isn't as scary as some people make it sound if your case is straightforward like a layoff.
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Morita Montoya
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I'm definitely going to file today - I've been putting it off because I was nervous about the process but it sounds like I just need to get it done. Did you have any issues with the weekly certifications? I'm worried I'll mess something up on those since I've never done this before.
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