How to open new claim for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - need step by step help

Thanks! Do I need pay stubs from my recent job or will NYS Department of Labor verify wages directly with my employer?

Wait, I thought it was still just 2 job contacts per week? When did this change to 3 activities?

The requirement is 3 work search activities per week for most claimants. Some activities count as multiple contacts - like attending a job fair can count for 2 activities. Check the specific requirements in your my.ny.gov account as they can vary based on your situation.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents by handling the phone queue for you. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. I was finally able to speak with someone about my adjudication issue after weeks of trying on my own.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they charge you a lot for the service?

They focus more on the value of actually reaching someone rather than the cost. For me it was worth it because I needed to resolve my claim status and couldn't afford to keep missing work to try calling during business hours.

glad it worked out! remember to file your first weekly claim this week even if your initial claim is still pending

This is really helpful advice about keeping job search records from the start! I'm curious about the interstate claim situation - how do you know if you need to file an interstate claim versus a regular one? Is it based on where you worked most recently or where you earned the most wages during the base period?

Great question! For interstate claims, it's generally based on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). If you worked in NY but also had wages in other states during that time, you might be eligible for a Combined Wage Claim that includes wages from multiple states. You'd still file through NYS Department of Labor since you're residing here, but they coordinate with the other states to combine your wages for a potentially higher benefit amount. The my.ny.gov system will actually prompt you about this when you're entering your employment history - it asks if you worked in other states. Definitely worth exploring if it applies to your situation since it could mean higher weekly benefits!

Good question! Interstate claims are typically filed in the state where you live, but it depends on your specific situation. If you worked in NY but live in another state, or worked in multiple states during your base period, you'd usually file in your state of residence. The key factor is where you have wages from covered employment during the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). NYS Department of Labor will coordinate with other states to determine your benefit amount based on all qualifying wages. I'd recommend calling NYS Department of Labor directly or checking the interstate claim section on my.ny.gov to determine which applies to your situation.

@Grace Lee Interstate claims are typically filed in the state where you live, but it depends on your specific work history. If you worked in NY most recently but also had wages in other states during your base period the (first 4 of the last 5 quarters ,)you might be able to combine those wages. The interstate claim process can actually get you higher benefits if you earned more in the other state. I d'recommend calling NYS Department of Labor to ask about your specific situation - they can run a quick wage inquiry to see if filing interstate would benefit you.

Good question! For interstate claims, it depends on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). If you worked in NY for most of your base period, you file in NY even if your most recent job was in another state. But if you worked primarily in another state during the base period, you'd file there instead. The wages from all states get combined, but the state where you file determines your benefit amount and requirements. NYS Department of Labor has an interstate claims section that can help determine which state you should file in - it's worth calling them if you're unsure since filing in the wrong state can delay your benefits significantly.

Great question! You file an interstate claim in the state where you currently live, but it's based on where you earned wages during your base period. If you worked in NY but now live in another state, you'd file an interstate claim in your current state but it would be against NY wages. Conversely, if you live in NY but worked in other states during your base period, you'd file the interstate claim in NY. The key is that your most recent work location doesn't necessarily determine it - it's about where your qualifying wages were earned. NYS Department of Labor will help coordinate with other states to verify your wage records.

Great question! For interstate claims, it's generally based on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). If you worked in NY for most of your base period but had some work in another state, you'd typically file in NY and they'll request wage information from the other state. However, if you worked primarily in another state during your base period, you might need to file there instead. The my.ny.gov system usually guides you through this during the initial questions, but when in doubt, NYS Department of Labor can help determine which state you should file in based on your specific work history.

Great question! You typically file an interstate claim in the state where you live, but it gets complicated when you've worked in multiple states. From what I understand, NYS Department of Labor will help determine this during the application process - they'll ask about all your employment in the base period (last 5 completed quarters) and figure out which state should handle your claim based on where you earned wages. If most of your wages were earned in NY, you'd likely file here even if you worked briefly in another state. But definitely let the system guide you through those questions rather than trying to figure it out yourself beforehand.

Great question! You file an interstate claim in the state where you live, but it's based on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). If you worked in New York during your base period but now live in another state, you'd file an interstate claim in your current state but it would be processed under New York's rules since that's where you earned wages. Conversely, if you live in NY but worked in other states during your base period, you'd file here but the other states' wage records would be used. The my.ny.gov system should guide you through this when you enter your work history - it'll detect if you need interstate processing.

Great question! For interstate claims, it's based on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). If you worked in NY for your most recent job but had wages from other states during the base period, you'd typically file in NY and they'll request wage information from the other states. However, if you worked mostly outside NY during the base period, you might need to file in the state where you earned the most wages. The my.ny.gov system will actually guide you through this - there's a section that asks about out-of-state employment and will tell you if you need to file elsewhere. When in doubt, you can always call NYS Department of Labor (good luck getting through!) or use their online chat feature to confirm where you should file.

Great question! Interstate claims are typically based on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file). If you worked in multiple states during that time, you generally file in the state where you earned the most wages. However, there are exceptions - sometimes it's better to file in the state with higher benefit amounts even if you earned less there. The my.ny.gov system should guide you through this, but if you're unsure, it's worth calling NYS Department of Labor to confirm before filing since you can't easily change it later.

Good question! For interstate claims, it's generally based on where you earned the most wages during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). If you worked in NY most recently but earned more wages in another state during your base period, you'd typically file in that other state. However, if NY is where you earned the most wages, you file here but NYS Department of Labor will request wage information from the other states. The my.ny.gov system should guide you through this during the application process, but if you're unsure, it's worth calling to confirm before filing.

Great question! Interstate claims are typically required when you worked in a state other than where you're filing for benefits during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). So if you live in NY but worked in NJ or CT during your base period, you'd likely need to file an interstate claim. The key factor is where you earned wages, not necessarily where you worked most recently. NYS Department of Labor will usually tell you during the initial claim process if you need to file interstate instead. The wages from other states can sometimes result in a higher benefit amount, so it's worth checking if you worked across state lines.

Great question! For interstate claims, it's generally based on where you worked during your base period (the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). If you worked in multiple states during that time, you'll need to file an interstate claim in the state where you currently reside. The state where you file will coordinate with the other states to get your wage information. However, if you only worked in New York during your base period but now live in another state, you'd still file with NYS Department of Labor since that's where your wages were earned. The my.ny.gov system should guide you through this, but it can get complicated so don't hesitate to call for clarification if you're unsure!

Great question! You typically file an interstate claim in the state where you live, but it gets complicated when you've worked in multiple states. The general rule is that you file in your state of residence, and they'll request wage information from the other states where you worked during your base period. However, if you worked primarily in another state and still live there, you might file directly in that state instead. NYS Department of Labor has specific guidelines on their website about interstate claims, but honestly the rules can be confusing. If you're unsure, it's worth calling their interstate claims unit directly - they can tell you definitively which type of claim to file based on your specific work history and residence.

Great question! Interstate claims are typically filed in the state where you currently live, but you can claim wages from jobs in other states during your base period. If you worked in NY but now live in another state, or if you worked in multiple states including NY, you'd usually file where you reside. The interstate claim pulls wage information from all the states where you worked. NYS Department of Labor has agreements with other states to share this wage data, but it can sometimes take longer to process. If most of your recent wages were earned in NY and you still live here, a regular NY claim is usually the way to go.

Great question! From what I understand, you typically file in the state where you worked most recently, but if you earned wages in multiple states during your base period (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters), NYS Department of Labor will help coordinate with those other states to combine your wages. The interstate process basically ensures you get credit for all your qualifying wages regardless of which state they were earned in. If you're unsure, it's best to start with a regular claim in NY since you're currently residing here - the system will flag if an interstate claim is needed during processing.