How to prove unemployment eligibility to NYS Department of Labor - what documents do they need?
I just got laid off from my job last week and need to file for unemployment benefits. I keep seeing that I need to 'prove unemployment' to NYS Department of Labor but I'm not sure what specific documents or evidence they actually require. My employer said they'll send separation paperwork but haven't received anything yet. What exactly do I need to gather to prove I'm eligible? I have my last paystub and my termination letter but is that enough? Really stressed about getting this right the first time.
14 comments
Join the conversation
Kelsey Chin
You'll need several key documents to establish your unemployment eligibility with NYS Department of Labor. Primary documents include: your separation notice or termination letter (which you have), your last paystub showing your final wages, and ideally a copy of your employment history for the past 18 months. If you were laid off, make sure the termination letter clearly states the reason was lack of work, not misconduct. Your employer should also file a separation notice directly with NYS Department of Labor, but having your own copy helps speed up the process.
0 coins
Vincent Bimbach
•Thank you! Should I wait for my employer to send the separation paperwork to NYS Department of Labor or can I file my claim now with just what I have?
0 coins
Norah Quay
Don't wait - file your claim immediately! You can always upload additional documents later through your my.ny.gov account. The key is to get your claim date established because benefits are paid from your filing date, not when you lost your job. NYS Department of Labor will request specific wage verification from your employer directly, so you don't need to worry about proving every detail upfront.
0 coins
Leo McDonald
•This is so true - I waited 2 weeks thinking I needed everything perfect and lost those weeks of benefits.
0 coins
Jessica Nolan
wait so do i need like bank statements too?? i thought they wanted to see all my finances or something. this is so confusing
0 coins
Kelsey Chin
•No, you don't need bank statements for regular unemployment claims. NYS Department of Labor only needs employment verification and separation details. Bank statements would only be relevant for certain special programs.
0 coins
Angelina Farar
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask about my required documents when my claim went into adjudication. Spent hours on hold getting nowhere. Found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent - check out claimyr.com, they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Turned out I just needed to upload my W2 from last year to verify my wages.
0 coins
Vincent Bimbach
•Interesting, how does that work exactly? Did they charge you to make the call?
0 coins
Angelina Farar
•They handle the calling process so you don't have to sit on hold. Was worth it to get my questions answered quickly and keep my claim moving.
0 coins
Sebastián Stevens
The whole 'proving unemployment' thing is just NYS Department of Labor making it harder than it needs to be. Like they assume everyone is trying to cheat the system. I had all my paperwork perfect and they STILL made me wait 3 weeks for adjudication just because my employer took forever to respond to their requests.
0 coins
Leo McDonald
•Same experience here - had everything documented perfectly but still got the runaround for weeks.
0 coins
Bethany Groves
Quick tip: take screenshots of everything you submit to NYS Department of Labor and keep copies of all documents. Their system sometimes 'loses' uploads and you'll want proof you submitted everything correctly the first time.
0 coins
Arnav Bengali
Just went through this process myself a few months ago. In addition to what others mentioned, make sure you have your Social Security card handy and any military discharge papers if you're a veteran (they sometimes ask for DD-214). Also, if you worked multiple jobs in the past year, gather contact info for ALL employers - NYS Department of Labor may need to verify wages from each one. The online application will walk you through exactly what documents to upload, but having everything ready beforehand makes the process much smoother. Good luck!
0 coins
Ethan Brown
•This is really helpful! I didn't even think about needing military documents. Quick question - when you say "contact info for ALL employers," do you mean just their phone numbers and addresses, or do I need specific HR contact details? My previous job before this one was at a small company that might not even have a dedicated HR person.
0 coins