How long to apply for unemployment after being fired - NYS Department of Labor deadline?
Got terminated from my retail job two days ago and I'm freaking out about missing some kind of deadline. My manager said it was due to 'performance issues' but honestly I think they just wanted to cut staff before the holidays. Anyway, does anyone know how long I have to file with NYS Department of Labor before I lose my chance? I keep seeing different information online and I'm worried I'm going to mess this up. Also do I need to wait a certain amount of time before I can apply or can I do it right away? This is my first time dealing with unemployment so I have no idea what I'm doing.
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StarStrider
You should file as soon as possible! There's no waiting period in NY - you can apply the day after you lose your job. The key thing is that your benefit year starts the week you file, not when you lost your job, so don't delay. Go to my.ny.gov and start your application. You'll need your social security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and details about why you were terminated.
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Zara Ahmed
•Thank you! I was so worried I had already missed some window. Going to start the application tonight.
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Luca Esposito
just a heads up the NYS Department of Labor website is super slow right now, took me like 3 hours to get through the whole application last week when i got laid off
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Nia Thompson
Make sure you're honest about the termination reason. If they fired you for performance, that's usually not disqualifying as long as it wasn't willful misconduct. Document everything about what happened - you might need it if they contest your claim. Also start your job search immediately because you'll need to certify that you're actively looking for work when you file your weekly claims.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•What counts as 'actively looking'? Do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs per week?
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Nia Thompson
•You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week in NY. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or working with a career counselor. Keep detailed records because NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log.
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Aisha Abdullah
I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim that's stuck in adjudication and can never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible. If you need to talk to someone about your application, I recently found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to a real person at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration compared to calling myself and getting hung up on constantly.
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Ethan Wilson
•How much does something like that cost though? I'm already stressed about money.
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Aisha Abdullah
•It's definitely worth it if you actually need to reach someone. Way cheaper than missing work to sit on hold all day, and actually works unlike the regular phone system.
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NeonNova
same thing happened to me except it was 'restructuring' which we all know means they wanted to get rid of higher paid employees. filed my claim the next day and got approved pretty quick. just be prepared for them to send you a million forms to fill out
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