How to draw unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor - step by step guide needed
I just lost my job last week and I'm completely lost on how to draw unemployment benefits. I've never filed for unemployment before and the NYS Department of Labor website is confusing me. Do I need to go somewhere in person or can I do everything online? What documents do I need to have ready? I'm worried I'm going to mess something up and delay my benefits. Can someone walk me through the basic steps to get started?
11 comments
Join the conversation
Sophie Duck
You can file everything online through my.ny.gov - no need to go anywhere in person. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months (employer names, addresses, dates worked, and reason for separation). File your initial claim first, then you'll need to file weekly claims every week to get paid. The process usually takes 2-3 weeks for your first payment if there are no issues.
0 coins
Lucas Lindsey
•Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic employment info? And when should I file my first weekly claim?
0 coins
Austin Leonard
just go to the website and follow the prompts its pretty straightforward once you get started, took me like 20 minutes to file my initial claim
0 coins
Anita George
Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup. Also, you'll need to register for work search activities - they require you to do job search activities each week. Keep detailed records of everything because NYS Department of Labor may ask for verification later. Start your weekly claims the Sunday after you file your initial application.
0 coins
Abigail Spencer
•Wait, I thought you had to wait a week before filing weekly claims? I'm so confused about the timing of everything.
0 coins
Anita George
•There's a one-week waiting period before you get paid, but you still need to file that first weekly claim to establish your pattern. Don't skip filing any weeks or it can cause delays.
0 coins
Logan Chiang
Getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone is nearly impossible if you run into problems. I spent hours trying to call them when my claim got stuck. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to real agents - check out claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to fix an issue with my weekly claim.
0 coins
Lucas Lindsey
•That's good to know! Hopefully I won't need to call anyone but it's nice to have a backup plan if something goes wrong.
0 coins
Isla Fischer
The whole system is a nightmare honestly. They make it as difficult as possible on purpose. I've been fighting with them for months over an overpayment notice that makes no sense. Good luck getting any real help from their customer service - if you can even reach them!
0 coins
Miles Hammonds
Don't listen to the negativity - most people get their benefits without major problems. Just be thorough with your application and keep good records. The key is filing consistently every week and responding quickly if they ask for any additional information.
0 coins
Lucas Lindsey
•Thanks for the encouragement! I'm going to start my application tonight while I have all my paperwork organized.
0 coins