Need help when filling out unemployment claim form - confused about work history section
I'm trying to file my initial unemployment claim and I'm getting stuck on the work history section when filling out unemployment claim form. Do I need to list every single job from the past 18 months or just my most recent employer? Also, there's a question about why I'm no longer working - my hours got cut to basically nothing due to slow business, but I wasn't technically laid off. What should I put for that? I don't want to mess this up and delay my claim.
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Ravi Sharma
You need to list all employers from the past 18 months, even part-time or temporary work. For your separation reason, reduction in hours/work available would be the correct choice. Make sure you have your employer's federal ID number and exact dates of employment - NYS Department of Labor will verify this information during processing.
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Isabella Ferreira
•Thank you! I was worried about that. Do I need pay stubs for all the jobs or just the most recent one?
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Freya Thomsen
yeah i had the same problem with that form its confusing as hell. just put down what you remember they can always ask for more info later if they need it
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Omar Zaki
Actually, being more thorough upfront saves you time later. NYS Department of Labor uses this information to calculate your benefit amount, so incomplete work history can delay your claim or result in lower payments. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone to clarify questions, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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AstroAce
•How much does that service cost? I've been trying to call for days with no luck.
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Omar Zaki
•It's worth checking out their site for details. Much easier than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.
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Chloe Martin
The NYS Department of Labor form is notorious for being confusing. For the work history section, include any W-2 employment from the base period they specify. For your situation with reduced hours, that's considered involuntary separation due to lack of work, which qualifies you for benefits. Make sure you save a copy of your completed application before submitting.
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Diego Rojas
ugh this whole system is such a nightmare. why cant they just make the forms clearer instead of setting people up to fail?? ive been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and its like they WANT to make it impossible
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Anastasia Sokolov
•I feel you on the frustration but the form isn't that bad once you understand what they're looking for
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Liam Fitzgerald
One tip that helped me with the work history section - if you worked multiple jobs during any period, list them all even if they overlapped. The system needs to see your complete earnings picture to calculate benefits correctly. Also, for the "reason for separation" with reduced hours, you can usually select "lack of work" or "reduction in force" - both indicate it wasn't your fault. Keep all your documentation handy in case they need to verify anything during the review process.
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Malik Thomas
•This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation and was wondering - when you say "keep all your documentation handy," what specific documents should I have ready? I have my last few pay stubs but I'm not sure what else they might ask for during the review.
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