How to get unemployment pay from NYS Department of Labor - confused about the whole process
I just got laid off from my warehouse job last week and everyone keeps telling me I should file for unemployment but honestly I have no idea how to get unemployment pay or even where to start. I've never done this before and the NYS Department of Labor website is confusing as hell. Do I just fill out some forms online? How long does it take to actually get money? My rent is due next week and I'm starting to panic. Can someone walk me through the basic steps of how to get unemployment pay in New York?
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Zoe Stavros
First step is creating an account on my.ny.gov if you don't have one already. Then you'll file your initial claim through the NYS Department of Labor portal. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and reason for separation. After your claim is approved, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. The whole process usually takes 2-3 weeks for first payment if there are no issues.
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Andre Rousseau
•Thanks! Do I need pay stubs or anything like that? I think I have some but not sure if I kept all of them.
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Jamal Harris
you dont need pay stubs just the basic info about your jobs, they verify everything with employers anyway. but make sure you file asap because theres a waiting week and benefits start from when you file not when you lost your job
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GalaxyGlider
The key thing is to be completely honest about why you were laid off. If there's any discrepancy between what you say and what your employer reports, your claim will go into adjudication which can delay payment for weeks. Also make sure you're available for work and actively looking - you'll need to do job search activities and log them in the system.
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Andre Rousseau
•What counts as job search activities? Like do I have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?
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GalaxyGlider
•Yes, you need to complete at least 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or taking skills training. Keep detailed records because NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log at any time.
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Mei Wong
been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for two weeks about my claim status and its impossible! the phone lines are always busy and when you do get through they hang up on you or put you on hold forever. this system is a joke
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Liam Sullivan
•I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually get you connected to a real NYS Department of Labor agent without all the busy signals and waiting. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get my adjudication issue resolved.
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Amara Okafor
Just wanted to say good luck! I was in the same boat 6 months ago and was so stressed about the whole process. Once you get your first payment it's a huge relief. The weekly claims become routine after a couple weeks. Make sure you keep filing even if you think you might get a job soon - better to have the safety net.
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