How long do I have to claim unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?
I got laid off from my job two weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to looking into unemployment benefits. I've been putting it off because I thought I might find something quickly, but no luck so far. How long do I have to claim unemployment with NYS Department of Labor? Is there a deadline after you lose your job? I'm worried I might have already missed some kind of cutoff and won't be able to get benefits at all. My friend said something about backdating but I'm not sure what that means.
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Aisha Mahmood
You should file your claim as soon as possible! In New York, you can backdate your claim up to 4 weeks from when you first file, but you'll need to provide a valid reason for the delay. The sooner you file, the better. Your benefits start from the week you actually file, not from when you became unemployed, unless you get approval for backdating.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Thanks! So if I file today, can I backdate it to cover the two weeks I've already been unemployed? What counts as a valid reason for the delay?
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Ethan Clark
File immediately on the NYS Department of Labor website. You have to wait one week after filing before you can claim your first weekly benefit, but that waiting week can be backdated if approved. Common valid reasons for delay include not knowing you were eligible, being hospitalized, or waiting for severance to end. Just be honest about why you waited.
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AstroAce
•This is good advice. I backdated mine 3 weeks when I filed and they approved it because I was waiting for my final paycheck and didn't realize I could file before receiving it.
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Yuki Kobayashi
ugh the whole system is so confusing! I waited almost a month before filing because nobody told me you could do it right away. They did approve my backdate request but it took forever to get through adjudication. Just file now and deal with the paperwork later!!
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Mateo Sanchez
•How long did adjudication take for you? I'm already stressed about money and can't afford more delays.
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Carmen Vega
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about backdating or check your claim status, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a real person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.
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Ethan Clark
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they actually help you get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor?
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Carmen Vega
•Yeah, I was able to talk to an actual adjudicator about my backdating request instead of just waiting and wondering. Made a huge difference in my stress level.
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Andre Rousseau
Don't wait any longer! File today. Even if you only get partial backdating approved, you'll still be better off than waiting even more weeks. The key is to start your weekly certifications as soon as your claim is processed.
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AstroAce
same boat as you, waited 3 weeks thinking id find work fast lol. they let me backdate 2 of the 3 weeks so not terrible. just get it started
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Miguel Alvarez
I was in a similar situation last year - lost my job and waited almost 3 weeks before filing because I was embarrassed and thought I'd find something quickly. Big mistake! NYS DOL approved my backdate request for 2 out of the 3 weeks I waited. My advice: file your claim TODAY on the NYS DOL website, then immediately request backdating for those 2 weeks you've already been unemployed. "Didn't know I could file immediately" or "thought I would find work quickly" are usually accepted as valid reasons. The worst they can say is no, but you're guaranteed to get nothing if you keep waiting. Don't make the same mistake I did!
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