I was laid off can I get unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
My company eliminated my position last Friday and I'm wondering if I qualify for unemployment benefits in New York. I worked there for 2 years full-time as a marketing coordinator. HR told me it was due to budget cuts and restructuring, not my performance. I've never filed for unemployment before so I'm not sure what the process looks like or if being laid off automatically qualifies me. Do I need to apply right away? What documents will I need? Any guidance would be appreciated.
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Miguel Herrera
Yes, being laid off for economic reasons like budget cuts typically qualifies you for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. You should file your claim as soon as possible - there's no waiting period requirement but benefits are only paid from the date you file, not retroactively. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and gross wages earned.
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Ava Thompson
•Thank you! Should I file online or is there a better way to apply?
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Miguel Herrera
•Definitely file online at labor.ny.gov - it's the fastest way and you can track your claim status there too.
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Zainab Ali
I got laid off in September and had no problems getting approved. The key is making sure you have all your employment info ready when you file. They'll ask for specific dates and wages from your last few jobs.
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Connor Murphy
Wait how long does it usually take to get approved?? I'm freaking out about paying my rent next month if this takes forever to process.
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Yara Nassar
•Most straightforward layoff cases get approved within 1-2 weeks. Since you were laid off for economic reasons and not fired for misconduct, your claim should process pretty quickly. Just make sure to file your weekly claims even while it's pending.
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StarGazer101
The NYS Department of Labor system can be really frustrating to deal with if you need to talk to someone. I had issues with my claim and couldn't get through on their phone lines for weeks. Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an actual agent - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Keisha Jackson
•Never heard of that but honestly anything beats trying to call NYS Department of Labor directly.
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Paolo Romano
Just remember you have to actively look for work and keep a log of your job search activities. They can ask for proof at any time so don't slack on that requirement.
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