How to request benefit payment NYS Department of Labor unemployment - weekly claim filing help needed
I just got approved for unemployment benefits last week but I'm confused about how to actually request my benefit payment. The NYS Department of Labor sent me a determination letter saying I'm eligible but I haven't received any money yet. Do I need to file something weekly? I see mention of weekly claims on the my.ny.gov site but I'm not sure if that's the same thing as requesting payment. Can someone walk me through the steps? I don't want to mess this up and delay my benefits.
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Pedro Sawyer
Yes, you need to file weekly claims to request your benefit payments! Even though you're approved, you have to certify each week that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Log into your my.ny.gov account and look for the 'Weekly Claim' section. You'll need to answer questions about any work you did that week, job search activities, and confirm you're able and available for work. File every Sunday for the previous week.
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Gemma Andrews
•Thank you! I found the weekly claim section. Do I need to file for this past week even though I just got approved yesterday?
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Mae Bennett
yeah you file every week or you dont get paid its that simple. i think you can backdate if you just got approved but not 100% sure on that
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Beatrice Marshall
•You can usually backdate to your application date if you file within a reasonable time. The system should show you which weeks are available to claim when you log in.
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Melina Haruko
I had the same confusion when I first got approved! The weekly claim is basically your way of saying 'yes I still need my unemployment payment for this week.' You'll answer questions about whether you worked any hours, if you looked for jobs, and if you were available to work. Make sure you keep track of your job search activities because they ask for specific details. Payment usually comes 2-3 business days after you file the weekly claim.
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Gemma Andrews
•How many job search activities do I need to report each week? The letter mentioned requirements but wasn't specific.
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Pedro Sawyer
•You need to complete at least 3 work search activities per week in New York. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or taking skills training courses. Keep detailed records with dates and contact information.
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Dallas Villalobos
The whole system is so confusing! I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for two weeks to ask the same question but can never get through. The phone lines are always busy and when I do get on hold, they disconnect me after an hour. How is anyone supposed to figure this out?
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Beatrice Marshall
•I had the same problem with their phone system being impossible to reach. I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to unemployment agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then conference you in when they reach an agent. Used it last month to sort out an adjudication issue and got through in about 30 minutes instead of wasting whole days calling myself.
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Dallas Villalobos
•That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Will check it out, thanks!
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Reina Salazar
Just to add - make sure you file your weekly claim by the deadline each week or you'll miss that week's payment entirely. I think the cutoff is usually Tuesday night but double check on the site. Also don't file too early in the week or it might not process correctly.
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Gemma Andrews
•Good to know about the deadline! I'll set a reminder to file every Sunday.
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