How to get unemployment pay stubs from NYS Department of Labor - need them for apartment application
I've been getting unemployment benefits for about 2 months now and I need to apply for an apartment. The landlord is asking for pay stubs but obviously I don't have those since I'm unemployed. How do I get proof of my unemployment payments from NYS Department of Labor? I tried looking on my.ny.gov but can't find anything that looks like a pay stub. Do they even give you something like that or do I need to request it somehow?
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Morgan Washington
You can get your unemployment payment history from your my.ny.gov account. Log in and go to the 'Unemployment Services' section, then look for 'Payment History' or 'Benefit Payment Summary'. You can print this out and it shows all your weekly benefit amounts and dates. Most landlords accept this as proof of income.
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Layla Sanders
•Thanks! I found the payment history but it just shows amounts and dates. Is there something more detailed that looks more like an actual pay stub?
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Kaylee Cook
The NYS Department of Labor doesn't issue traditional pay stubs like an employer would. What you want is called a '1099-G' form which shows your total unemployment benefits for tax purposes, but that's only available at tax time. For current proof, the payment history from your online account is what most places accept. You can also call and request a benefit verification letter if the landlord needs something more official looking.
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Oliver Alexander
•I had the same issue last year. Some landlords don't understand unemployment documentation. I had to explain that unemployment doesn't work like regular employment with pay stubs.
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Lara Woods
ugh this is so frustrating!! why dont they just give us something that looks normal?? i've been trying to get an apartment for weeks and every place wants different paperwork
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Morgan Washington
•I know it's annoying, but the payment history printout from my.ny.gov is actually pretty comprehensive. Make sure you're printing the detailed version that shows your weekly benefit amount, not just the summary.
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Adrian Hughes
I was having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to request additional documentation for my housing application. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who could verify my benefits and send me an official letter. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process much easier than trying to call myself.
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Layla Sanders
•How long did it take to get the letter once you got through to someone? My lease application deadline is next week.
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Adrian Hughes
•The agent was able to email me a verification letter the same day. Much faster than I expected!
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Molly Chambers
Just went through this myself. Pro tip: when you print your payment history from my.ny.gov, also print out your original determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount. Having both documents together makes it look more official and complete.
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Zoe Dimitriou
Another option is to ask the landlord if they'll accept a screenshot or printout of your unemployment debit card transaction history. If you get your benefits loaded onto a KeyBank debit card, those transactions show up like direct deposits with dates and amounts. Some landlords find this easier to understand than the official DOL payment history since it looks more like regular bank statements they're used to seeing.
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Kayla Morgan
•That's a really good point about the debit card statements! I never thought of that option. Do you know if all unemployment recipients get the KeyBank card automatically or do you have to request it? I think I'm getting direct deposit to my regular bank account but the debit card statements might look more "paycheck-like" to landlords who aren't familiar with unemployment documentation.
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