How many days to claim unemployment benefit - NYS Department of Labor filing deadlines?
I got laid off from my warehouse job last Tuesday and I'm confused about the timing for filing my unemployment claim. Some people are telling me I need to file within a certain number of days or I'll lose benefits. How many days do I actually have to claim unemployment benefit with NYS Department of Labor? I don't want to mess this up and miss out on money I really need right now. Also does the day I file affect when my benefits start?
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Wesley Hallow
You should file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. While there's no strict deadline that cuts you off completely, NYS Department of Labor only pays benefits from the week you file your claim - they don't backdate to when you actually lost your job. So every day you wait is potentially money lost. The sooner you file, the sooner your weekly benefit period starts.
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Kennedy Morrison
•So if I wait like 2 weeks to file, I lose those 2 weeks of benefits permanently? That's really good to know, I was thinking about waiting until I had all my paperwork organized.
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Justin Chang
File immediately! I made the mistake of waiting 10 days after my layoff thinking I needed my final paycheck first. NYS Department of Labor couldn't backdate my claim and I lost out on almost $800. The system is set up so your benefit year starts from the Sunday of the week you file your initial claim, not from when you became unemployed.
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Grace Thomas
•Wait really? I thought they could backdate at least a week or two if you had a good reason for the delay.
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Justin Chang
•Nope, they're pretty strict about it. The only exception is if there was some kind of system issue that prevented you from filing, but even then it's hard to prove.
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Hunter Brighton
ugh the nys unemployment system is so confusing about this stuff!! i waited like 5 days to file mine and when i called to ask about getting those days back they basically said tough luck. file asap is the only advice that matters
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Dylan Baskin
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on filing deadlines or claim status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time when I needed to clarify my filing date and make sure everything was processed correctly.
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Kennedy Morrison
•That's interesting, I've been trying to call for two days and keep getting the busy signal. Did it actually work for getting through to someone?
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Dylan Baskin
•Yeah it did! I was able to talk to an agent about my specific situation instead of just getting hung up on or listening to recordings.
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Lauren Wood
Just to add some practical info - when you do file, make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months ready. Having all that info organized will make the filing process much faster. And remember you'll need to file weekly claims every week after your initial application to keep getting benefits.
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Ellie Lopez
This whole timing thing stressed me out so much when I got laid off! I filed on a Thursday and spent the whole weekend worrying I should have waited until Monday or something. Turns out it doesn't matter what day of the week you file, just that you file as soon as you can. NYS Department of Labor processes everything and your benefit week will start from the appropriate Sunday regardless.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Thanks, that makes me feel better. I was worried about filing today since it's mid-week.
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