I got approved for unemployment now what - NYS Department of Labor next steps?
Just received my determination letter yesterday saying my unemployment claim got approved! I'm honestly relieved because I was worried they might deny it since I left my last job due to unsafe working conditions. But now I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do next. The letter mentions weekly claims but doesn't really explain the process clearly. Do I need to start filing something right away? Also saw something about job search requirements but the information is confusing. Can someone walk me through what happens after approval?
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Lincoln Ramiro
Congratulations on getting approved! Yes, you need to start filing your weekly claims immediately. You should file every week even if you haven't received your debit card yet. 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 and any income you received. For job search requirements, you need to complete at least 3 work search activities per week and keep records of everything.
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Henrietta Beasley
•Thank you! Should I file for this week even though I just got approved yesterday? And what counts as a work search activity?
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Faith Kingston
definitely file this week! i made the mistake of waiting when i first got approved and it caused issues with my payments. the job search stuff is annoying but you gotta do it - applying for jobs, going to job fairs, networking events, even online career workshops count
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Emma Johnson
•Actually, you should be careful about the timing. If your claim effective date was this week, then yes, file immediately. But if it's backdated, you might need to file for multiple weeks. Check your determination letter for the exact effective date of your claim.
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Liam Brown
ugh the weekly claims are such a pain but you HAVE to do them or you won't get paid. I keep forgetting to do mine on time and then have to stress about whether it will mess up my benefits. The whole system is so confusing and the website crashes half the time when everyone's trying to file on Sunday nights
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Lincoln Ramiro
•Pro tip: file your weekly claim early in the week, like Monday or Tuesday. The system is much more stable then and you won't have to worry about the Sunday rush.
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Olivia Garcia
You also need to set up your direct deposit or get ready for the debit card. NYS Department of Labor usually sends the KeyBank debit card within 7-10 business days after your first payment is processed. Keep track of all your job search activities in a log - they can audit you at any time and ask for proof. I learned this the hard way when they requested my records after 6 months.
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Henrietta Beasley
•Oh wow, they can audit job search records? I had no idea. Is there a specific format I should use for keeping track?
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Olivia Garcia
•Yes, they can request your job search log anytime during your claim or even after it ends. Keep employer names, dates, how you contacted them, and any responses. The NY.gov website has a template you can download.
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Noah Lee
honestly if you have trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor with questions about your weekly claims or job search requirements, I had good luck with this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I had issues with my claim status.
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Henrietta Beasley
•That sounds helpful! I was wondering how people actually get through to talk to someone when they have problems.
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Liam Brown
•wait is this legit? the phone lines are always busy when i try to call
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Ava Hernandez
same thing happened to me last month! make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. i got confused about that at first
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