How long until you can collect unemployment after getting laid off in NY?
Got let go from my retail job yesterday and wondering how long until you can collect unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? My manager said something about a waiting period but I'm not sure what that means. I need to start getting some income coming in as soon as possible since I have rent due in two weeks. Should I file my claim right away or wait? Also does anyone know if there's still that one week waiting period I heard about?
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Miguel Ramos
You should file your unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor as soon as possible - don't wait! There's no waiting period in NY anymore, they eliminated that back in 2021. You can potentially receive your first payment within 2-3 weeks if your claim processes smoothly. Make sure you have your employment history ready when you file online.
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Ava Martinez
•Thanks! So I can file today then? Do I need any specific documents from my employer?
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QuantumQuasar
File immediately but be prepared for potential delays. Your claim might go into adjudication if there are any questions about your separation. Keep calling and checking your online account regularly. The NYS Department of Labor system can be slow to update sometimes.
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Zainab Omar
ugh the whole process is such a nightmare... took me forever to get through when I filed last year
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Connor Gallagher
•Same here! The phone lines are always busy and the website crashes constantly. Really hope they've improved things since then.
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Yara Sayegh
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I used a service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Was way easier than spending hours on hold.
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Ava Martinez
•Never heard of that before but might be worth looking into if I run into issues. How much does something like that cost?
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Yara Sayegh
•I don't remember the exact price but it was worth it to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor instead of getting hung up on repeatedly.
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Keisha Johnson
Just make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to do work search activities and keep a log once you start collecting. Don't want to get caught off guard by that later on.
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