How long does it take to file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I'm planning to file for unemployment next week and trying to figure out how much time I should block out for the process. Is filing with NYS Department of Labor something that takes 15 minutes or should I expect to spend a few hours? I've heard different things from friends - some say it's quick online but others mentioned having to gather tons of documents first. What's been everyone's actual experience with the filing time?
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Diego Vargas
The actual online filing through my.ny.gov usually takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. But the prep work is what takes time - you'll need your Social Security card, driver's license, employment history for the last 18 months including exact dates and employer addresses, and your most recent pay stub. I'd budget 2-3 hours total including gathering documents.
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Chloe Anderson
•Thanks! Do I need exact salary amounts or just approximate? I switched jobs twice this year and don't remember the exact weekly pay from my first job.
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CosmicCruiser
took me like 20 mins when i did it last month but i had everything already organized in a folder. the hardest part was remembering my supervisor's name from a job i had 15 months ago lol
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Anastasia Fedorov
Be prepared for the system to ask for very specific details. You'll need employer names, addresses, phone numbers, your job titles, start and end dates, reason for separation, and gross wages earned. The NYS Department of Labor system won't let you proceed without completing every required field. If you're missing information, you can't save a partial application - you have to start over.
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Sean Doyle
•Wait, you can't save it halfway through? That seems really inconvenient if you realize you're missing something important.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Exactly why I always tell people to gather everything first. The system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity too, so you lose your progress if you step away to find documents.
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Zara Rashid
honestly the whole process is a nightmare. spent 3 hours trying to file because the website kept crashing and when i finally got through, they said there was an issue with my claim that needed manual review. now its been 2 weeks and still no response from anyone at NYS Department of Labor. good luck actually getting through on the phone to check status
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Luca Romano
•I had similar issues reaching someone by phone until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call NYS Department of Labor for you and get you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Nia Jackson
Pro tip: file early in the morning on Tuesday-Thursday. Mondays and Fridays the system is super slow because everyone's trying to file or do their weekly claims. Also make sure you have a good internet connection - losing your session halfway through is the worst.
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