How often can you claim unemployment - NYS Department of Labor weekly filing question
I'm confused about the weekly claim filing process with NYS Department of Labor. Do I need to file every single week or can I skip weeks if I don't need the money right away? Also, if I had unemployment last year for 3 months, does that affect how often I can claim this year? I lost my job again due to company downsizing and want to make sure I'm doing this right from the start.
11 comments
Join the conversation
Yara Assad
You must file your weekly claim certification every week that you want to receive benefits, even if you haven't received your payment yet. You cannot skip weeks and then go back to claim them later. Each week you don't file is considered a week you didn't want benefits. Your previous claim from last year doesn't impact your ability to file weekly now - each benefit year is separate.
0 coins
Paolo Bianchi
•Thank you! So if I miss filing one week by accident, I just lose that week's payment forever?
0 coins
Olivia Clark
Yeah you have to do it every week by Sunday night or you lose that week. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to file one week and NYS Department of Labor wouldn't let me go back and claim it. The system is pretty strict about the deadlines.
0 coins
Javier Morales
•Same thing happened to me! Lost a whole week because I was out of town and forgot to file online.
0 coins
Natasha Petrov
Actually having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my weekly claim status. Been calling for days and either get hung up on or the line is busy. Has anyone found a better way to reach them? This is really frustrating when you need answers about your claim.
0 coins
Yara Assad
•I had the same phone issues last month. Someone here recommended this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Worked great for me when I needed to resolve an adjudication issue.
0 coins
Connor O'Brien
wait so if i file unemployment this year it doesn't count against unemployment from last year? i thought there was some kind of limit on how many times you could get benefits
0 coins
Yara Assad
•Each benefit year is independent. As long as you worked enough and earned enough wages in your base period, you can establish a new claim. The previous claim doesn't count against your new eligibility.
0 coins
Amina Diallo
The weekly filing thing is such a pain but you really can't miss it. I set a phone reminder every Sunday to make sure I don't forget. Also make sure you're reporting any work you did that week correctly - even if it's just a few hours of freelance work, you need to report it or you could get an overpayment notice later.
0 coins
Paolo Bianchi
•Good tip about the phone reminder! I'll set that up right now.
0 coins
Grant Vikers
Just wanted to add that you should also keep track of your job search activities when you file weekly. NYS requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and you might get audited later where you have to provide proof. I keep a simple spreadsheet with company names, dates, and how I contacted them (online application, phone call, etc.). It's saved me from headaches when they requested documentation during my benefit year.
0 coins