How long do you have to wait to apply for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I just got laid off from my construction job yesterday and I'm trying to figure out the timing for filing my unemployment claim. My supervisor said something about having to wait a certain amount of time before you can apply, but I can't find clear information on the NYS Department of Labor website. Do I need to wait a week or can I file right away? I'm worried about missing some kind of deadline or waiting period that might delay my benefits. Has anyone recently filed and knows the current rules?
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Aisha Mohammed
You can file your unemployment claim immediately after losing your job - there's no waiting period to apply. In fact, you should file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts the week you file, not the week you lost your job. The NYS Department of Labor recommends filing within the first week after job loss to avoid any potential delays in processing.
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Luca Ricci
•Thanks! That's a relief. I was worried I'd have to wait and then miss out on that first week of benefits.
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Ethan Campbell
Just to clarify - while you can file immediately, there IS a one-week waiting period before you receive your first payment. So if you file this week, you won't get paid for this week, but you'll start getting payments for the following weeks as long as you continue filing your weekly claims and meet all the requirements.
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Yuki Watanabe
•This is correct. The waiting period is for payment, not for filing the initial claim. Don't let that discourage you from filing right away though.
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Carmen Sanchez
ugh i made this mistake when i got fired last year. waited like 2 weeks thinking i had to wait and it just delayed everything. file ASAP trust me on this one
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Luca Ricci
•How long did it take for your claim to get processed once you finally filed?
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Carmen Sanchez
•took about 3 weeks total but that was because of the delay from me waiting to file. should be faster if you file right away
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Andre Dupont
If you're having trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions about your claim, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get connected to an actual agent without waiting on hold for hours. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify some details about my claim status.
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Zoe Papadakis
•Never heard of this but might be worth trying. The NYS Department of Labor phone lines are impossible to get through on.
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ThunderBolt7
Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - your last employer's info, your Social Security number, and details about why you lost your job. The online system will ask for all of this and it's easier if you have it organized beforehand.
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