NYS Department of Labor when do i file unemployment - confused about timing requirements
hey everyone i got laid off yesterday from my retail job and im not sure when exactly im supposed to file for unemployment benefits? do i file right away or wait a certain amount of time? also do i need to wait until i get my final paycheck or can i start the process now? really stressed about this whole thing and dont want to mess up the timing
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Charlie Yang
You should file as soon as possible after your last day of work. The NYS Department of Labor allows you to file your initial claim immediately after separation from employment. Don't wait for your final paycheck - you can file while that's still pending. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed. Keep in mind there's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, so filing early is important.
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Olivia Martinez
•ok thank you! so i can literally file today even though i just got laid off yesterday?
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Grace Patel
Yes definitely file ASAP! I made the mistake of waiting two weeks thinking I needed all my paperwork first and it just delayed everything. The NYS Department of Labor system will walk you through what information you need. You'll need your Social Security number, employer information, and details about your separation. Don't overthink it - just get the claim started.
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ApolloJackson
•This is so true. I waited because I thought I needed my final pay stub but you really don't need it to start the initial claim.
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Isabella Russo
The key thing to remember is that your benefit year starts the week you file your claim, not when you became unemployed. So if you wait weeks to file, you're potentially losing out on benefits for those weeks. File online at labor.ny.gov as soon as you can gather the basic employment information. The system is pretty straightforward for initial claims.
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Rajiv Kumar
•wait so if i got laid off 3 weeks ago but haven't filed yet, did i lose those weeks of benefits??
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Isabella Russo
•Unfortunately yes, you can't backdate benefits to before you filed your claim. That's why it's crucial to file immediately after job loss.
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Aria Washington
I was in a similar situation last month and kept getting hung up on when I called the NYS Department of Labor. If you're having trouble getting through to verify anything about timing, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful when I could actually talk to someone about my specific situation.
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Liam O'Reilly
•how much does something like that cost? seems like it might be worth it if the phone lines are that bad
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Aria Washington
•It was really reasonable and saved me hours of calling. The video explains everything about how they help you get through to the right department.
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ApolloJackson
just file online its not that complicated. i filed the day after i got fired and everything went smooth. you dont need to stress about perfect timing just get it done
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