NYS Department of Labor requirements when you apply for unemployment - what to expect?

The initial application process is pretty straightforward but you'll want to have all your documentation ready. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the last 18 months (including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation), and your most recent pay stub. The NYS Department of Labor will ask about your last day of work, gross wages, and whether you received any severance. After you submit, they'll send you a monetary determination letter within about a week showing your weekly benefit amount. Then you'll need to start filing weekly claims every Sunday.

You can actually start filing your weekly claims the Sunday after you submit your initial application, even before you get the determination letter. Don't wait because you won't get paid for weeks you don't claim. Just make sure you're ready to start your job search immediately - NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least three job contacts per week and keep a detailed log. They can ask to see it at any time during your claim period.

One thing nobody tells you is how frustrating it can be to actually reach someone at NYS Department of Labor if you have questions. I spent hours trying to call their customer service line and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold forever. The online system is usually pretty clear but when you need a human it's nearly impossible.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare... I applied back in January and it took SIX WEEKS to get my first payment because they said they needed to verify my employment history. Meanwhile I'm trying to pay rent and buy groceries with no income. And don't even get me started on the job search requirements - three contacts a week sounds easy until you realize how few places actually respond to applications these days!!

To answer your original question more completely - after you apply, expect to receive several pieces of mail from NYS Department of Labor. First will be your monetary determination showing your benefit amount, then instructions for filing weekly claims, and possibly requests for additional documentation depending on your situation. The key is to respond to everything promptly and keep filing those weekly claims even if your first payment is delayed. Most people get their first payment within 2-3 weeks if there are no complications with their claim.

Just went through this process myself a few months ago and wanted to add a couple things that helped me. First, create your NY.gov account BEFORE you need it - the system can be slow and you don't want to deal with account setup when you're stressed about filing. Second, keep screenshots of everything you submit because the system occasionally glitches and loses information. Also, if you're worried about the job search requirement, LinkedIn Easy Apply jobs count toward your three weekly contacts, which makes it much easier to hit that number. The whole process is definitely overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes pretty straightforward.