Step by step guide on how to apply unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor
I'm helping my neighbor who got laid off last week and we're trying to figure out how to apply unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. She's never filed before and we're looking at the my.ny.gov website but it's pretty confusing. What's the actual process? Do you start with creating an account first or can you jump right into filing? Also worried about messing something up that would delay her payments.
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Mae Bennett
The process is actually straightforward once you know the steps. First, go to my.ny.gov and create an account if she doesn't have one. Then navigate to the unemployment services section. You'll need her Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the last 18 months including employer names and addresses, and dates of employment. The system will walk through each step but make sure all information is accurate because errors can trigger adjudication delays.
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Beatrice Marshall
•How long does the whole application usually take to complete? My friend is stressed about getting through it all in one sitting.
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Melina Haruko
I just went through this process myself two months ago. The key things to remember: file as soon as possible after the layoff, have all your employment documents ready beforehand, and don't guess on dates or wages if you're not sure - look them up or call previous employers. The NYS Department of Labor system saves your progress so you can log out and come back if needed. Took me about 45 minutes total.
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Pedro Sawyer
•That's really helpful! Did you run into any issues with the employer verification part? That's what she's most worried about.
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Dallas Villalobos
ugh this system is so complicated!! why cant they just make it simple like applying for a library card or something. spent 2 hours on it yesterday and still didnt finish because it kept timing out
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Mae Bennett
•The timeout issue is frustrating but try using Chrome or Firefox and clear your browser cache before starting. Also avoid peak hours like Monday mornings when everyone's trying to file their weekly claims.
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Reina Salazar
When I was trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about my application, I couldn't reach anyone for weeks. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me time instead of calling hundreds of times myself.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•How much does something like that cost though? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to someone about our own benefits.
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Reina Salazar
•I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it for me. The alternative was spending hours every day trying to get through on my own with no guarantee of reaching anyone.
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Demi Lagos
Make sure she understands the weekly claim requirement too! Even after the initial application is approved, you have to file every week to actually receive payments. I know someone who got approved but didn't realize they had to keep filing weekly and missed out on several weeks of benefits.
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NeonNova
One thing I'd add is to make sure your neighbor has her most recent pay stub and any termination paperwork from her employer ready. The system will ask for her last day of work and final wages, so having those exact dates and amounts will make the process smoother. Also, if she was laid off due to lack of work (not fired for cause), that makes her eligible right away. The initial application usually takes 2-3 weeks to process, but she should start filing weekly claims immediately after applying even before getting approved - those weeks can be paid retroactively once she's approved.
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Shelby Bauman
•This is really comprehensive advice! Quick question - when you say to start filing weekly claims immediately even before approval, do you do that through the same my.ny.gov portal? I want to make sure we don't accidentally create duplicate applications or mess something up by filing too early.
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