Need help proving unemployment for NY benefits - documentation requirements confusing

I went through this last month. For NY unemployment in 2025, they typically want: 1) Pay stubs from your last employer (last 3 months if possible), 2) Employment separation notice or termination letter, 3) W-2 from previous year, and 4) ID verification (driver's license + social security card usually works). The most important thing is the separation documentation showing you didn't quit voluntarily. Upload everything through your NY.gov account under the 'Documents' section.

Thank you so much! I have my termination letter and last 4 pay stubs, but I'm not sure about the W-2 since I worked at multiple places last year. Do I need to submit ALL W-2s from 2024 or just from my most recent employer?

I tried for WEEKS to reach someone at the unemployment office with no luck. The phone system is a nightmare in 2025. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an actual human in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. They basically call for you and when they get through, they connect you directly to an agent. The agent walked me through exactly what documents I needed for my specific situation (was much different than what I thought). Worth it just for the peace of mind knowing you're submitting the right stuff.

is that service thing legit? sounds 2 good 2 be true tbh. do they ask for personal info?

It's legitimate - they just need your phone number to connect the call to you when they get through to an agent. They don't need any of your unemployment information. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying to call for days. Agent I spoke with answered all my documentation questions in about 5 minutes.

I had a similar issue back in January!!! The documentation requirements are RIDICULOUS and they don't explain them AT ALL!! The NY unemployment system is COMPLETELY BROKEN by design!! I uploaded what I thought was everything they needed and got DENIED anyway because apparently I didn't send the right 'type' of pay stub even though NOBODY TOLD ME what type they wanted!!! Now I'm appealing and it's been 6 weeks with no response!!!

What exactly happened with your documentation? Did they send you a specific denial reason? This might help the original poster avoid the same issue.

They said my pay stubs didn't show 'sufficient detail' whatever THAT means!!! I sent PDF copies of my online pay portal but apparently they wanted the FULL paystub with YTD earnings. NOWHERE on their website does it specify this!!!

To directly answer your question about who to contact: Your local NYS Department of Labor Career Center can sometimes provide guidance on documentation requirements. Find your local office at: dol.ny.gov/career-centers. Additionally, your state assembly member's office often has staff dedicated to helping constituents with unemployment issues. They can sometimes get answers from DOL much faster than you can. Look up your assembly member at nyassembly.gov/mem/search/.\n\nRegarding documentation, the specific requirements depend on your employment situation. If you were a W-2 employee, you need different documentation than if you were self-employed or had mixed income. It's important to be precise about your situation when you do reach someone.

This is really helpful! I didn't think about contacting my assembly member. I'm a W-2 employee but worked for 3 different companies last year, so I wasn't sure if I needed documentation from all of them or just my most recent employer. I'll try the career center tomorrow morning.

when i filed my claim they only wanted my last employer stuff not all of them. just make sure you have your termination letter showing you didnt quit and the last couple pay stubs. thats all i needed and got approved in like 10 days

That doesn't sound too bad! Did you have to call them at all during the process, or did everything go through smoothly just by uploading documents?

didnt have to call at all. just uploaded stuff and waited. check your email every day they sent me one message asking for 1 more thing i forgot

I was in a similar position last month and was so confused about what documents they needed. The online instructions are so vague! I actually went in person to the Department of Labor office in downtown Manhattan (worth the trip even if you're not in the city), and the person there gave me a checklist specific to my situation. In general, they like to see:\n\n- Last pay stub showing year-to-date earnings\n- Proof of termination (email, letter, etc.) that clearly shows you didn't quit\n- If you had multiple employers, proof of your earnings from the base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters)\n- Something with your SSN on it (like your Social Security card)\n- Photo ID\n\nFor multiple employers, focus on documentation from your most recent job for the separation reason, but you'll need earnings info from all employers during the base period. Hope this helps!

This is excellent advice. The base period documentation is especially important if you had multiple employers during that time, as it helps establish your benefit amount. Make sure you have documentation that shows both your hours worked and earnings from each employer during that period.

Thank you both! This is starting to make more sense. I didn't realize they look at a 'base period' - that explains why they might need info from more than just my last job. I'll gather everything from all three employers for the past year to be safe.

my cousin works for unemployment and says they literally just want whatever proves u lost ur job without it being ur fault. termination letter is gold. if u dont have that, emails about layoff work too. they mostly just need proof u didnt quit or get fired for something bad. everything else is just backup

That's a relief to hear. I do have the termination letter, so hopefully that will be the most important piece. Thanks for the insider info!

One more important thing I forgot to mention - if you're submitting documents online, make sure they're clear, legible PDFs (not photos taken with your phone). I've helped several people who were denied because their documentation was unclear or incomplete. The NY DOL system actually uses automated scanning for initial document review, so if the system can't read your documents clearly, you might face delays or denial. If you don't have access to a scanner, there are free scanner apps for smartphones that convert photos to PDF.

I've been taking photos with my phone, but I'll definitely use a scanner app instead. Thanks for the tip - I would have never thought about that!

THIS is what happened to me!!! I sent phone pics of my docs and they couldn't read them!!! But did they TELL ME that? NO!!! They just DENIED my claim and I had to APPEAL!!! The whole system is designed to deny people!!!

After talking with the DOL agent (when I finally got through using Claimyr), I learned something important: they're now requiring documentation that specifically proves your employment during the

This is exactly right. The alternative base period can make a huge difference in your benefit amount, especially if you had higher earnings in the most recent completed quarter. Make sure all your earnings documentation has dates clearly visible!

Thank you! I'll make sure to include all that info. I've put together a folder with everything from the past 5 quarters now. Feeling much more confident about submitting everything properly.