NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim process - how does claiming unemployment work for first time filers?
I just got laid off from my job at a marketing firm after 2 years and have never filed for unemployment before. I'm completely lost on how does claiming unemployment work with NYS Department of Labor. Do I need to apply right away or can I wait a few days? What documents do I need and how long does the whole process take? I heard there's weekly certifications too but I don't understand what that means. Any guidance would be really helpful since I'm stressed about paying my rent next month.
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DeShawn Washington
You should file your initial claim as soon as possible because there's a waiting week before benefits start. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months including employer addresses and dates, and your most recent pay stub. The initial application takes about 30-45 minutes on the NYS Department of Labor website. After your claim is processed, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to certify you're still unemployed and actively looking for work.
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Lena Kowalski
•Thank you! Do I file the weekly claims on the same website? And what happens if I miss a week?
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Mei-Ling Chen
Yes, weekly claims are filed on the same my.ny.gov portal. You CANNOT miss weeks or you'll lose benefits for those weeks permanently. You need to file every single week even if your claim is still pending approval. The job search requirement is 3 work search activities per week, and you need to keep detailed records in case NYS Department of Labor audits your claim.
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Sofía Rodríguez
•Wait, I thought it was only 2 job searches per week? When did they change it to 3?
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Mei-Ling Chen
•It's been 3 activities per week for a while now. Check the current requirements on the NYS Department of Labor website because they update the rules.
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Aiden O'Connor
OMG this is so confusing! I filed my claim 2 weeks ago and it's still showing 'under review' with no updates. I can't get through to anyone on the phone - it just hangs up after being on hold forever. Is this normal??? I'm freaking out because my savings are almost gone.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•I had the same issue with getting through to NYS Department of Labor. Try calling right at 8am when they open, but honestly I used a service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got my claim status updated.
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Jamal Brown
The whole system is a nightmare honestly. Been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for years and they make everything unnecessarily complicated. Just be prepared for delays, lost paperwork, and contradictory information from different representatives.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Same experience here unfortunately
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