NYS Department of Labor unemployment filing deadline - is there a deadline to file for unemployment?
I was laid off from my warehouse job about 2 months ago and I've been putting off filing for unemployment because I thought I'd find something quickly. Now I'm really struggling with bills and wondering if I waited too long. Is there a deadline to file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor? I heard from someone that you only have 30 days but then my neighbor said she filed like 3 months after losing her job. I'm really confused and stressed about this. Can I still file or did I miss my chance?
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Kayla Jacobson
You can still file! There's no strict deadline for initial filing with NYS Department of Labor, but there are important things to know. You can file up to one year after becoming unemployed, but benefits are only paid retroactively for one week. So if you file today, you'd get benefits starting from this week forward, not for the past 2 months you've been unemployed. The sooner you file the better since each week you wait is money lost.
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Hannah Flores
•Oh thank god! I was so worried I completely screwed myself. So I should file right away then? Do I need any specific documents to start the process?
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William Rivera
File ASAP through my.ny.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, last employer info, and employment history for the past 18 months. The key thing people don't realize is that even though there's no hard deadline, you lose money every week you don't file. Your benefit year starts when you file, not when you became unemployed. So those 2 months you waited? That's gone money.
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Grace Lee
•This exactly. I made the same mistake and waited 6 weeks thinking I'd find work fast. Lost out on like $1800 in benefits I could never get back.
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Mia Roberts
Had a similar issue last year where I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks after filing. Kept getting busy signals and their online chat was useless. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much stress trying to reach someone.
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The Boss
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for hours. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is a nightmare.
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Evan Kalinowski
wait i thought you had to file within like 4 weeks or something? my friend told me that when she got fired last year. this is confusing because everyones saying different things
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Kayla Jacobson
•Your friend might be thinking of the weekly claim filing requirement. Once you start collecting benefits, you have to file your weekly claims within a specific timeframe or you lose that week's payment. But for the initial application, you have up to a year.
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Victoria Charity
Just file already! The longer you wait the more money you're losing. I've been through this process three times unfortunately and the biggest mistake is always waiting too long to file thinking you'll find work right away.
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Owen Jenkins
Don't stress too much about the timing - you haven't missed your chance! I went through this exact situation last year when I was laid off from my retail job. The 30-day thing your friend mentioned isn't accurate for NYS. You can file up to a year after becoming unemployed, but like others said, you only get benefits going forward from when you file. I waited about 6 weeks and kicked myself for not filing sooner. The application process on my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward - just have your employment history ready and your last employer's info. The hardest part is actually getting through to speak with someone if you need help, but the initial filing can be done online. File this week and you'll start getting benefits soon!
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Jamal Carter
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I'm definitely going to file today - you're right that I'm just losing money every day I wait. Do you remember how long it took to get your first payment after filing? I'm really behind on rent and bills so I'm hoping it doesn't take too long to start coming through.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
•From my experience, it usually takes about 2-3 weeks to get your first payment after filing, but that can vary depending on if they need any additional information from you or your employer. The key is to make sure you file your weekly certifications on time every week - you can do those online too. They usually pay out on the same day each week once you're in the system. I know it's stressful when bills are piling up, but definitely file today and start that clock ticking. You might also want to contact your landlord/creditors to let them know you've applied for unemployment and give them a timeline - most are understanding about temporary financial hardship if you communicate with them.
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