How to request unemployment payment through NYS Department of Labor - need step by step help
I just got laid off from my restaurant job last week and I have no idea how to actually request unemployment payment from NYS Department of Labor. I've been looking at the my.ny.gov website but it's confusing and I don't want to mess anything up. Do I need to file a claim first before I can request payments? Or is requesting payment the same thing as filing? I'm really stressed about this because I need to pay rent next week. Can someone walk me through exactly what steps I need to take to get unemployment money?
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Anastasia Smirnova
First you need to file your initial unemployment claim through my.ny.gov - that's different from requesting weekly payments. Once your claim is approved, then you'll certify for benefits each week to request payment. The initial claim establishes your eligibility and benefit amount. After that's processed, you'll get instructions on how to file your weekly claims to actually receive payments.
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Diego Chavez
•Ok so filing the claim comes first, then weekly certification? How long does the initial claim take to get approved?
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Sean O'Brien
Yeah you definitely need to file your initial claim ASAP. Go to my.ny.gov and look for 'File for Unemployment Insurance Benefits'. You'll need your Social Security number, employer info from your last 18 months of work, and bank account details if you want direct deposit. The weekly certification happens after your claim is approved - that's when you actually request your weekly payments.
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Zara Shah
•Don't forget you also need to register with the NYS job search system as part of the process or your payments can get held up
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Luca Bianchi
I went through this same thing 6 months ago and it was SO confusing at first! The key thing is understanding that 'requesting payment' happens through your weekly claim certification. You file your initial claim once, then every week you go back and certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work. That weekly certification is basically you requesting your payment for that week.
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Diego Chavez
•That makes more sense! So I file the big claim once, then do weekly check-ins to get paid each week?
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Luca Bianchi
•Exactly! The weekly certification usually asks if you worked, if you looked for work, and if you're able and available. Answer honestly and you should get paid within a few days.
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GalacticGuardian
Just a heads up - if you have trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. You can check out their site at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me time when my claim got stuck in adjudication.
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Diego Chavez
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money
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GalacticGuardian
•It's worth checking out their site for details, but for me it was worth it just to avoid spending hours on hold trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor
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Nia Harris
the whole system is ridiculous honestly. you file a claim, wait forever, then have to jump through hoops every week just to get money you already earned through your work. but yeah you gotta do the initial filing first before any payments happen
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Mateo Gonzalez
•I feel you on the frustration but the weekly certifications are actually pretty quick once you get used to them
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