How often can you file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - confused about claim limits
I've been working on and off for the past few years and I'm wondering about the rules for filing unemployment claims. I had a claim that ended about 8 months ago when I found work, but now I'm laid off again. Can I file another claim with NYS Department of Labor right away or do I need to wait? Also, is there a limit to how many times you can file for unemployment benefits in New York? I keep hearing different things from coworkers and want to make sure I understand the rules before I apply.
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Finnegan Gunn
You can file a new claim as soon as you become unemployed again - there's no waiting period between claims. NYS Department of Labor doesn't have a limit on how many times you can file for unemployment during your lifetime. Each claim period is called a 'benefit year' and lasts 52 weeks from when you first file. If you exhaust benefits and find work, then become unemployed again, you just start a new benefit year with a fresh application.
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Alina Rosenthal
•That's a relief! So I don't have to worry about using up some kind of lifetime limit. Do I need to have worked a certain amount between claims?
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Miguel Harvey
Yes, you need to meet the work requirements again for each new claim. For NYS Department of Labor, you generally need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). The exact amount depends on your earnings, but as long as you worked those 8 months, you should qualify for a new claim.
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Ashley Simian
•This is exactly what happened to me last year - filed in March, benefits ended in August when I got hired, then laid off again in December and filed a new claim no problem.
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Oliver Cheng
wait I thought there was some kind of rule about not being able to file too often?? my friend said she couldn't file again because she had just filed the year before
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Finnegan Gunn
•Your friend might be thinking of the work requirement - you need sufficient earnings in your base period. If someone files multiple short-term claims without working much between them, they might not meet the earnings threshold for a new claim.
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Taylor To
The NYS Department of Labor system is honestly confusing about this stuff. I've been trying to call them for weeks to ask similar questions but can never get through. Last time I waited on hold for 3 hours before getting disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them about claim questions?
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Ella Cofer
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls NYS Department of Labor for you and gets you connected to an agent. I used it at claimyr.com and actually got through in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration with the phone system.
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Taylor To
•That sounds too good to be true but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The regular phone system is just impossible.
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Kevin Bell
Just to add - when you file your new claim, make sure you have all your employment information ready including your last employer's details and your separation reason. The system will ask about any unemployment benefits you received in the past year too.
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Keisha Brown
One thing to keep in mind is that even though there's no limit on how many times you can file, each new claim will be based on your most recent work history and earnings. So if you've been working on and off, your benefit amount might vary between claims depending on how much you earned during each base period. Also, make sure you report any work you did between claims when you file - even part-time or temporary work counts toward meeting the requirements for a new claim.
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Sayid Hassan
•That's a really good point about the benefit amounts changing based on your base period earnings. I hadn't thought about how working on and off might affect what I'm eligible for each time. Since I worked for 8 months between my last claim and now, hopefully my earnings will be decent enough for a good benefit amount. Thanks for mentioning about reporting all the work too - I did have a few short temp jobs during that time that I wasn't sure if I needed to mention.
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Sasha Ivanov
Just wanted to chime in with my experience - I've filed for unemployment three different times over the past five years with NYS Department of Labor and never had any issues with limits or waiting periods. The key thing is making sure you meet the work requirements each time. I'd recommend filing your new claim online as soon as possible since there can be a waiting week before benefits start, and the sooner you file, the sooner that clock starts ticking. Also, keep good records of your work history and pay stubs - it makes the application process much smoother when you have all the documentation ready.
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Mateo Perez
•This is really helpful to hear from someone with multiple filing experiences! I'm definitely going to file online right away - I didn't realize there was a waiting week before benefits start. Quick question though - when you say "keep good records," do you mean just recent pay stubs or should I have documentation going back further? I'm trying to gather everything I need before I start the application.
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Salim Nasir
•For documentation, I'd recommend having at least the past 18 months of pay stubs and employment records ready, since NYS uses your base period earnings to calculate benefits. The system will typically look at the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters, so having that broader timeframe covered ensures you won't be scrambling for documents if they need to verify your work history. Also keep any separation notices or termination letters - they help speed up the process when they're reviewing your eligibility.
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StarStrider
I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been super helpful! Just wanted to add that when you file your new claim, the NYS system will automatically determine which base period gives you the highest benefit amount - either the standard base period or an alternate base period that includes more recent earnings. This can be really beneficial if you worked consistently during those 8 months between claims. Also, don't forget that you can usually start certifying for benefits the week after you file your initial claim, even if there's a waiting week. The online system at labor.ny.gov makes it pretty straightforward once you get through the initial application.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thanks for mentioning the automatic base period calculation! That's really reassuring to know that the system will pick whichever option gives me the better benefit amount. I was worried I might accidentally choose the wrong time period and end up with lower benefits. The labor.ny.gov portal does seem pretty user-friendly from what I've seen so far. One quick follow-up - do you know if there's any advantage to filing earlier in the week versus later, or does the timing within the week not matter as long as you file promptly after becoming unemployed?
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