Just got fired - how do I get unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
My boss let me go yesterday after 2 years at my job. They said it was due to company restructuring but I'm pretty sure it was really because I complained about unsafe working conditions last month. Either way I need to figure out how to apply for unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and honestly have no idea where to start. Do I apply online? What information do I need? How long does it take to get approved? I'm really stressed about paying my rent next month.
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QuantumQueen
You'll need to file your claim with the NYS Department of Labor as soon as possible. Go to labor.ny.gov and create an account if you don't have one already. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months including employer names and addresses, and your most recent pay stub. The application takes about 30-45 minutes to complete online.
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Mateo Martinez
•Thank you! Do I need to wait until I get my final paycheck before applying or can I start the process now?
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Aisha Rahman
File immediately - don't wait for your final paycheck. Your benefit year starts the week you file, not when you actually lost your job. Since you were fired (not laid off), they'll probably put your claim in adjudication to investigate whether the termination disqualifies you from benefits. This usually takes 2-4 weeks to resolve.
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Mateo Martinez
•What's adjudication? Should I be worried about that?
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QuantumQueen
•Adjudication is just their investigation process. Since you mentioned unsafe working conditions, make sure you have documentation of your complaints - that could actually help your case if they try to claim you were fired for misconduct.
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Ethan Wilson
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I got fired 3 months ago and it took FOREVER to get my first payment. The NYS Department of Labor website crashes all the time and good luck trying to call them
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Yuki Sato
•I had trouble reaching them by phone too until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually get you through to NYS Department of Labor agents without waiting on hold for hours. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when my claim got stuck.
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Carmen Flores
Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of everything. They can ask for this documentation at any time and if you don't have it, they'll stop your benefits.
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Andre Dubois
same thing happened to my cousin last year, took like 6 weeks to get first payment but then it was fine
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