How to apply for unemployment 2025 - NYS Department of Labor new process questions

The process is pretty straightforward once you know the steps. First, gather your employment info from the past 18 months - employer names, addresses, dates worked, and your gross wages. You'll file online through my.ny.gov, not the old labor.ny.gov site. File during your first week of unemployment, don't wait. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and bank info for direct deposit. The system will calculate your benefit amount based on your earnings history.

File immediately - there's a waiting week anyway so don't delay. Make sure you have your separation reason ready to explain. If you were laid off that's straightforward, but if there were any performance issues or you quit, be prepared to provide details. The NYS Department of Labor will contact your employer to verify everything.

ugh the my.ny.gov website is such a nightmare to navigate!! I spent like 3 hours trying to find the right application last month. Make sure you're going to the unemployment services section, not the general benefits area. And have all your info written down first because the session times out if you take too long filling it out.

Just wanted to add that you'll need to complete work search activities every week starting immediately, even during your waiting week. Keep detailed records of every job you apply to because they can audit your job search log at any time. Three work search activities per week minimum in most cases.