How to fill out NYS Department of Labor unemployment application online - step by step help needed
I'm trying to apply for unemployment benefits online through the NYS Department of Labor website but I'm getting confused by some of the questions. This is my first time filing and I want to make sure I don't mess anything up. The my.ny.gov portal has so many sections and I'm not sure what information they're looking for in some fields. Has anyone recently gone through the online application process? What should I have ready before I start filling it out? I'm particularly confused about the work history section and how detailed I need to be.
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Lilah Brooks
The online application is pretty straightforward once you know what to expect. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, last employer's information (company name, address, phone, dates worked), your gross wages from the last 18 months, and bank account info if you want direct deposit. For the work history section, you need to list ALL employers from the last 18 months, not just your most recent job. Make sure you have the exact dates of employment and reason for separation for each job.
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Owen Jenkins
•Thank you! I didn't realize I needed info from ALL employers in the last 18 months. I had three different jobs during that time so this will take longer than I thought.
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Jackson Carter
Before you start filling anything out, gather all your documents first. The system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity and you'll lose everything if you're not prepared. I learned this the hard way and had to start over twice. Also, when they ask about your reason for separation, be very specific - 'laid off due to lack of work' is better than just 'laid off'. The NYS Department of Labor uses this info to determine if you're eligible.
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Owen Jenkins
•Good tip about the timeout! I was wondering if I could save progress as I go. Sounds like I need to have everything ready before I even log in.
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Kolton Murphy
ugh the online system is so confusing! I filled mine out last week and kept getting error messages that made no sense. ended up having to call the NYS Department of Labor three times before someone could help me figure out what I was doing wrong
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Evelyn Rivera
•If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an agent faster. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals when I needed to fix an issue with my application.
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Julia Hall
One thing that tripped me up was the weekly benefit amount calculation. The system does this automatically based on your earnings history, but it helps to understand how they calculate it. They look at your highest quarter of earnings in your base period and divide by 26. Don't worry if the amount seems low at first - you can always appeal if you think there's an error in your wage records.
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Owen Jenkins
•That's helpful to know. I was wondering how they determine the benefit amount. At least I know it's automatic so I don't have to calculate anything myself.
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Arjun Patel
Just make sure you answer everything honestly! The NYS Department of Labor crosschecks everything and if they find discrepancies later you could end up with an overpayment issue or worse.
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