How long do you have to be out of work to apply for unemployment benefits in NY?
I just got laid off yesterday from my job at a manufacturing plant where I worked for 2 years. My supervisor said I should file for unemployment right away but I'm confused about the timing. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before I can apply? Some people are telling me different things - one coworker said you have to be unemployed for a week first, another said you can file immediately. I don't want to mess this up and lose out on benefits. Can someone explain the actual NYS Department of Labor rules about when you're eligible to file?
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Malia Ponder
You can file your initial claim immediately after becoming unemployed - there's no waiting period to submit your application. However, there is a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment. This means your first week of unemployment won't be compensated, but you should still file your weekly claim for that week to establish your claim.
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Holly Lascelles
•Thank you! So I should go ahead and file today then? And I'll need to do the weekly claims every week even for that first week I won't get paid?
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Kyle Wallace
File ASAP! The sooner you file your initial claim, the sooner your benefit year starts. You'll need to file weekly claims starting with your first full week of unemployment. The NYS Department of Labor processes claims faster now than they used to, but there can still be delays if you wait. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and reason for separation ready.
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Ryder Ross
•This is exactly right. I waited almost a week to file because I thought I needed to be unemployed longer and it just delayed everything for no reason.
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Gianni Serpent
ugh the whole system is confusing... i think there used to be a waiting week but now theres not?? or maybe there still is but its different? honestly just call them and ask
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Malia Ponder
•There's still a waiting week - you just don't get paid for your first week of unemployment. But you should file your claim right away, not wait to file.
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Henry Delgado
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone when I was trying to figure out my claim timing. If you're having issues reaching them, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier than trying to call for hours.
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Olivia Kay
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money while I'm unemployed.
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Henry Delgado
•It was worth it for me to get answers quickly instead of wasting days trying to get through. They focus on getting you connected rather than charging a lot.
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Joshua Hellan
Yeah definitely file right away. I made the mistake of thinking I should wait and see if I could find another job first. Bad idea - you're just losing time and potentially money. The NYS Department of Labor wants you to file as soon as you're unemployed.
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Yuki Sato
Just to add some clarity - in NY you should file your initial unemployment claim immediately after losing your job, but there's still a 7-day waiting period before you receive your first benefit payment. This waiting period starts from your first day of unemployment, not from when you file. So if you were laid off yesterday, that counts as day 1 of your waiting period. You'll still need to certify for benefits during that first week even though you won't get paid for it. The key is getting your claim started ASAP so there are no unnecessary delays in the process.
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