How long do you have to file unemployment claim after job loss in NY?

You need to file as soon as possible! There's no strict deadline to file your initial claim, but you can only receive benefits for weeks you actually file for. So every week you wait is a week of benefits you're losing. The NYS Department of Labor won't backdate your claim to your separation date - only to when you actually file. Get on my.ny.gov and file today.

Actually you might be able to get some of those weeks back depending on your situation. When you file your initial claim, NYS Department of Labor will ask why there was a delay. If you have a good reason (like you were looking for work or had another job lined up that fell through), they sometimes approve backdating. But don't count on it - just file immediately and explain the delay when they ask.

I made the same mistake when I got laid off in 2023! Waited 2 weeks thinking unemployment was like admitting defeat or something stupid like that. Cost me about $650 in benefits. The system doesn't care about your pride - file the second you lose your job. Also make sure you file your weekly claims every single week even if your initial claim is still processing.

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about backdating, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was stuck in phone hell for days trying to get someone to explain my claim status, but Claimyr got me through to a real person in about 20 minutes. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak to someone about your situation.

Just file NOW and stop overthinking it. The longer you wait the worse it gets. I know someone who waited 2 months and got absolutely nothing backdated.

I work for a local workforce development agency and I see this situation all the time. The key thing to understand is that NYS unemployment benefits are paid based on when you file your weekly certifications, not when you lost your job. So yes, you've likely lost those 3 weeks of benefits permanently. However, don't let that discourage you from filing immediately - you can still get benefits going forward. When you file your initial claim, be honest about the delay and explain that you were actively job searching. Sometimes they'll approve a week or two of backdating if you have documentation of your job search efforts during that period. The important thing now is to file today and then make sure you certify for benefits every single week going forward, even if you're still job hunting.