NYS Department of Labor - when can you draw unemployment benefits eligibility requirements?
I'm really confused about when exactly you can start drawing unemployment benefits in New York. My last day of work was January 15th but I keep hearing different things about waiting periods and when benefits actually start. Some people say you can file immediately, others say there's a waiting week? Also not sure if there are specific circumstances that let you draw benefits sooner or later. Can someone explain the actual timeline for when you can draw unemployment from NYS Department of Labor?
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Paolo Bianchi
You can file your initial claim immediately after your last day of work, but there are specific eligibility requirements. In NY, there's no waiting week anymore - that was eliminated. Your benefit year starts the Sunday of the week you file. However, you must be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. You also need sufficient work history - typically 2 quarters of wages in your base period.
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Keisha Thompson
•That's helpful! So if I worked steady for the past 2 years I should meet the work history requirement right?
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Yara Assad
Just went through this myself last month. Filed my claim the day after I got laid off and had my first payment within 2 weeks. The key thing is making sure you file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed. Don't wait for approval to start filing weekly - that's a mistake I almost made.
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Olivia Clark
•How long did your claim take to get approved? Mine's been in adjudication for over a week now
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Yara Assad
•Mine was pretty straightforward since it was a clear layoff, took about 10 days total. Adjudication can take longer depending on the circumstances of your separation.
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Javier Morales
wait i thought there WAS a waiting period?? i've been putting off filing because someone told me you have to wait a week before you can even apply. so confusing!!
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Paolo Bianchi
•No waiting period in NY anymore - that was changed several years ago. You should file as soon as possible after your last day of work to avoid any delays in processing.
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Natasha Petrov
I had a nightmare trying to reach NYS Department of Labor to ask similar questions about my eligibility timeline. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Was worth it just to get my questions answered directly instead of guessing.
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Keisha Thompson
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Did they help clarify your specific situation?
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Natasha Petrov
•Yeah, they helped me understand exactly when my benefits would start and what I needed to do. Much better than trying to navigate the phone system myself.
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Connor O'Brien
The whole system is frustrating honestly. Even when you're eligible they make you jump through so many hoops with the job search requirements and weekly certifications. But to answer your question - file immediately, don't wait.
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Amina Diallo
•Agree the process is annoying but at least the payments help when you need them
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