Should I apply for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?
I got laid off from my job at a marketing firm two days ago and I'm wondering if I should apply for unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and honestly don't know if I even qualify. I worked there for about 8 months full-time making $52,000 a year. My manager said it was due to budget cuts and gave me a severance package of two weeks pay. I'm 28 and this is my first time being unemployed since college. Should I bother applying with NYS Department of Labor or do I need to wait until my severance runs out? Also how long does the whole process take? I'm kind of stressed about money already.
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Astrid Bergström
Yes, definitely apply right away! You can file for unemployment benefits even while receiving severance pay in New York. The NYS Department of Labor will just offset your weekly benefit amount by the severance. Since you worked 8 months and earned decent wages, you should easily meet the work history requirements. The application process takes about 15-20 minutes online and you'll get your first payment in 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with your claim.
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Ravi Patel
•Really? I thought severance would disqualify me completely. That's a relief! Do I need any specific documents when I apply?
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PixelPrincess
File immediately! I made the mistake of waiting when I got laid off and lost out on weeks of benefits. The NYS Department of Labor counts your claim from the day you file, not from when you lost your job. You'll need your Social Security number, employer info, and last day worked. The whole thing is online now at my.ny.gov.
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Omar Farouk
I had a similar situation last year - got laid off with severance and wasn't sure about applying. Turns out I was overthinking it. The NYS Department of Labor system is pretty straightforward about eligibility. Since you were laid off through no fault of your own, you should qualify. Just be honest about your severance when you file your weekly claims. I was getting partial benefits while my severance lasted, then full benefits after.
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Ravi Patel
•How much were you getting in benefits if you don't mind me asking? Trying to figure out if it's worth the hassle.
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Omar Farouk
•It varies based on your earnings but I was getting around $420 per week. Even partial benefits helped cover groceries and utilities while I job searched.
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Chloe Martin
Don't wait! The NYS Department of Labor phone lines are always jammed and if you run into any issues with your application, you'll want time to resolve them. I tried calling for weeks when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in minutes. They have this video demo that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much frustration dealing with busy signals.
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Ravi Patel
•Thanks for the tip! I'll keep that in mind if I have trouble reaching them.
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Diego Fernández
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a pain but yeah you should apply. just prepare for lots of waiting and confusing rules. they make it so complicated on purpose i swear. but if you were laid off you definitely qualify so might as well get what you can
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
Absolutely apply! Just remember you'll need to start looking for work immediately and keep a log of your job search activities. NYS requires you to make at least three work search contacts per week. The good news is online applications count, so it's not too hard to meet the requirement.
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