How long before you can collect unemployment in NY - NYS Department of Labor waiting period?
I just got laid off from my job at a warehouse in Rochester and I'm trying to figure out the timing for filing my unemployment claim. My last day was December 15th and I haven't filed yet because I wasn't sure about the waiting period. How long before you can collect unemployment benefits after losing your job? Do I need to wait a certain number of days before I can even apply to NYS Department of Labor, or can I file right away? I'm really confused about the whole process and need to know when I can expect my first payment.
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Caleb Stone
You can file your unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor immediately after your last day of work - there's no waiting period to apply. In fact, you should file as soon as possible because benefits are calculated from the date you file, not from when you lost your job. There is a one-week waiting period before you receive your first payment, but that starts counting from when you file your claim.
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Jade Santiago
•Oh wow, I didn't know I should have filed right away! So I've already lost almost two weeks by waiting? Should I file today then?
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Daniel Price
File ASAP! I made the same mistake when I got laid off from my job in Buffalo last year. I waited three weeks thinking there was some kind of waiting period and it cost me money. Once you file, you'll have a one-week unpaid waiting week, then if everything goes smoothly with your claim, you should start getting payments. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready when you apply on the my.ny.gov website.
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Olivia Evans
•this is exactly right, dont wait any longer
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Sophia Bennett
The whole system is confusing but here's what I learned when I filed in November. You file immediately after job loss, then there's a mandatory one-week waiting period where you won't get paid but you still need to file your weekly claim. After that week, assuming your claim gets approved and you meet all the job search requirements, you'll start receiving benefits. If your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, that can add weeks or even months to the process unfortunately.
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Jade Santiago
•What's adjudication? Is that something I should be worried about?
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Caleb Stone
•Adjudication happens when NYS Department of Labor needs to investigate something about your claim - like if there are questions about why you lost your job or if you have any issues with previous claims. Most straightforward layoffs don't go into adjudication.
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Aiden Chen
I've been trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible to get through on the phone. The wait times are insane and half the time I just get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there? I'm getting really frustrated with this whole process.
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Daniel Price
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents by phone. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It saved me hours of trying to call myself and I actually got to speak with someone who could help with my claim issues.
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Aiden Chen
•Thanks, I'll definitely check that out. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about my claim.
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Zoey Bianchi
Just to add - make sure you're ready to start doing job searches right away too because NYS Department of Labor requires you to be actively looking for work. You'll need to log your job search activities and be able to provide proof if they ask for it. Don't let that part catch you off guard like it did me!
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Fiona Sand
@Jade Santiago - Yes, definitely file today! Don't wait any longer. Since you lost your job on December 15th and it's now late December, you've already missed out on potential benefits for those weeks. When you file your claim on the NY.gov website, your benefit year will start from the date you file, not from when you were laid off. So the sooner you get that application in, the better. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information from your warehouse job ready when you apply. The process can take a little while to complete online, so set aside some time to do it properly.
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Andre Lefebvre
•This is really helpful advice! I had no idea that benefits start from when you file, not when you lose your job. That's such an important distinction. @Jade Santiago I hope you were able to get your application submitted - it sounds like time is definitely of the essence here. I m'actually in a similar situation myself just (got laid off last week and) this whole thread has been incredibly informative. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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