How long do you have to be out of work to collect unemployment in NY?
I just got laid off from my warehouse job yesterday and I'm trying to figure out when I can apply for unemployment benefits. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time before I'm eligible? I heard conflicting info from coworkers - some said you have to be unemployed for a week first, others said you can file right away. Also wondering about the waiting period before payments start. I worked full-time for the past 18 months so I think I meet the work requirements but I'm confused about the timing. Can someone clarify the NYS Department of Labor rules on this?
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Philip Cowan
You can file your unemployment claim immediately after becoming unemployed - there's no waiting period to apply. However, there is a 7-day waiting period before you can receive your first payment. So if you file today, your first payable week would be next week. The key is to file as soon as possible because benefits are only paid from the date you file, not from when you became unemployed.
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Kara Yoshida
•Thanks! So I should file right away even though I won't get paid for the first week? That makes sense.
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Caesar Grant
yeah file asap dont wait around like i did and lose out on weeks of benefits!! the waiting week sucks but thats just how it works in NY
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Lena Schultz
Just to clarify the process: You file your initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, then you have to file weekly claims every week to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work. The first week you file is your waiting week (unpaid), but every week after that is potentially payable if you meet the requirements. Make sure you have your employment history ready when you file - they'll need dates and employer info.
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Gemma Andrews
•Wait, I thought the waiting week was eliminated during COVID? Or did that get changed back?
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Lena Schultz
•The waiting week was temporarily waived during the pandemic but it's back in effect now. You still have to serve the unpaid waiting week for regular unemployment benefits.
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Pedro Sawyer
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I filed last year. Spent hours on hold just to ask basic questions about my claim. If you run into issues reaching them, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than sitting on hold forever.
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Kara Yoshida
•Good to know about that service. Hopefully I won't need it but I'll keep it in mind if I can't get through.
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Mae Bennett
The unemployment system is so confusing and they don't explain anything clearly. I remember being stressed about every little detail when I filed. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly about why you're unemployed and keep track of your job search activities from day one.
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