NYS Department of Labor unemployment filing - what do I put for work location if I work remotely?
I just got laid off from my remote job and I'm trying to file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. The application keeps asking for my work location but I've been working from home for the past 2 years. My employer is based in Manhattan but I live upstate and never went to their office. What address am I supposed to put down? My home address or the company's NYC office? I don't want to mess this up and delay my claim.
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Lucas Bey
You should use your employer's business address, not your home address. Even though you worked remotely, NYS Department of Labor needs the official workplace location which would be where your employer is registered. This won't affect your eligibility since you're a NY resident filing in NY.
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Charlotte Jones
•Thank you! That makes sense. I was worried they'd think I was trying to file in the wrong state or something.
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Harper Thompson
same thing happened to me last year!! i put my home address first and it got flagged for review. had to call and explain the whole remote work situation. use the company address definitely
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Charlotte Jones
•Ugh that sounds like a hassle. How long did it take them to fix it once you called?
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Harper Thompson
•took like 3 weeks to get through to someone but once i explained it was resolved pretty quick
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Caleb Stark
I had this exact same issue when I got laid off from my remote position. The key thing is to use your employer's primary business address - that's what determines which state processes your claim. Since your employer is in Manhattan and you're a NY resident, you're filing correctly with NYS Department of Labor. Just make sure you have documentation showing you worked for this NY-based company if they ask for verification during adjudication.
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Charlotte Jones
•What kind of documentation should I keep handy? Just my last few paystubs?
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Caleb Stark
•Paystubs, your employment offer letter, and any company communications that show you were working remotely for this NY employer. Sometimes they want to verify the remote work arrangement was legitimate.
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Jade O'Malley
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify this, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I had questions about my remote work situation. They help you get connected to actual agents without waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.
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Charlotte Jones
•That actually sounds really helpful. I've been dreading having to call if something goes wrong with my application.
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Hunter Edmunds
Just to add - make sure when you're doing your weekly claims you report any freelance or contract work you might pick up while unemployed, even if it's remote. The job search requirements still apply too, you'll need to log your applications and be available for work.
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StarStrider
I'm in a similar situation right now - just got laid off from my remote job last week and about to file. This thread is super helpful! One thing I'm wondering about is whether the work location affects anything else like which local job center I'd need to contact if they require in-person meetings? My company was based in NYC but I'm way upstate near Albany. Has anyone dealt with that aspect of remote work and unemployment?
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Hunter Hampton
•Great question! From what I understand, your local services are typically based on where you live, not where your employer was located. So even though your company was NYC-based, you'd likely work with the Albany area workforce development office for any in-person requirements. The good news is that most of the process is online now anyway, but if you do need to meet with someone it should be at your local office. You might want to double-check this when you file your claim or call to confirm which office serves your area.
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Malik Davis
This is really helpful information for all of us dealing with remote work unemployment situations! I just wanted to add that when you're filling out the application, there's usually a section where you can add notes or explanations. I'd recommend mentioning that you worked remotely in that section, even though you're using the employer's Manhattan address as your work location. That way if there are any questions during processing, the context is already there. Also, keep copies of any emails or documentation that show your remote work arrangement was approved by your employer - it can help if they need to verify your work situation later.
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