What all do you need for unemployment benefits in NY - complete checklist?
I'm getting laid off next month and want to make sure I have everything ready to file my unemployment claim right away. What all do you need for unemployment when applying through NYS Department of Labor? I've heard there's specific documents and information they require but I want to make sure I don't miss anything important. This is my first time filing for UI benefits so any help would be appreciated!
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Zoe Wang
You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also gather your most recent pay stubs and any separation paperwork from your employer. The NYS Department of Labor will also ask for your bank account information if you want direct deposit.
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Aidan Hudson
•Thank you! Do I need the exact addresses for all my employers or just the main office address?
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Connor Richards
Make sure you have your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen. Also if you were in the military you'll need your DD-214. The my.ny.gov system is pretty specific about what format they want everything in so have digital copies ready.
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Grace Durand
•good point about the DD-214, lots of people forget that one
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Steven Adams
honestly the hardest part was remembering all my job details from 18 months ago... I had to dig through old emails and stuff to find contact info for places I worked briefly. start gathering that info now while you still have access to your work systems
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Aidan Hudson
•Oh wow good thinking! I should probably write all that down before my last day.
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Alice Fleming
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor agents to verify requirements, I used claimyr.com to get through their phone system. They have this video demo (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) that shows how it works. Really helped when I had questions about my application that the website couldn't answer.
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Hassan Khoury
•Never heard of that service before but might be worth checking out if the phone lines are as bad as everyone says
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Victoria Stark
Don't forget you need to register for work search activities right away too. The job search requirements kick in immediately so have your resume ready and start thinking about where you'll be applying. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about the work search log.
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Grace Durand
yeah and make sure you file the same week you lose your job or you might lose benefits for that week. the system doesn't backdate easily
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