Should I apply for unemployment after layoff - NYS Department of Labor filing advice needed
Got laid off from my marketing job yesterday and I'm honestly not sure if I should file for unemployment benefits right away. My supervisor said something about the company possibly calling people back in a few months but nothing definite. I've never filed for unemployment before and don't really understand the process. Do I need to wait to see if they rehire me or should I apply for unemployment after layoff immediately? Also worried about messing something up on the application since I have no idea what I'm doing with NYS Department of Labor forms.
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StellarSurfer
You should absolutely file immediately! Don't wait around hoping for a callback that might never come. The NYS Department of Labor has a one-week waiting period anyway, so filing now protects your start date. You can always stop claiming if they call you back. Go to labor.ny.gov and start your application today - you'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and details about your layoff.
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Anastasia Romanov
•Thanks! Do I need any paperwork from my employer or can I just file based on what I know?
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Sean Kelly
yeah definitely apply asap. i waited like 2 weeks when i got laid off thinking my job might bring me back and it was a mistake. you lose money every week you don't file
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Zara Malik
File immediately and here's what you need to know: You'll create an account on my.ny.gov first, then access the NYS Department of Labor application. Have your last employer's information ready including dates of employment and reason for separation. Since you were laid off (not fired for misconduct), you should qualify. The key is to file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed. Missing a week means losing that week's benefits permanently.
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Luca Greco
•Wait I'm confused - do you file the initial claim AND weekly claims at the same time? I thought you had to wait for approval first?
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Zara Malik
•No, you file your initial claim first, then start filing weekly claims the week after. Don't wait for approval - file those weekly claims while your initial claim is in adjudication or you'll lose those weeks.
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Nia Thompson
I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone when I had questions about my claim status. If you run into issues reaching them, I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
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Anastasia Romanov
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money.
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Nia Thompson
•It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was way better than spending entire days trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor and never reaching anyone.
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Mateo Rodriguez
The whole unemployment system is such a mess honestly. They make it so complicated when people are already stressed about losing their jobs. But yeah you have to play their game and file immediately or you're screwed.
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Aisha Hussain
Just went through this myself! File today if you can. The application takes maybe 30 minutes and then you'll know your weekly benefit amount. Even if your company calls you back, having the claim already filed means you can restart benefits immediately if the callback doesn't work out.
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