What do I file unemployment - confused about NYS Department of Labor application process
I just got laid off from my construction job last week and everyone keeps telling me to file unemployment but I honestly have no idea what that even means or where to start. Do I file papers somewhere? Is it online? What do I actually need to file unemployment with NYS Department of Labor? I've never done this before and feeling pretty lost about the whole process. Any help would be appreciated.
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KhalilStar
You'll need to file your initial unemployment claim online through the NYS Department of Labor website at labor.ny.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked. The process takes about 30-45 minutes to complete your application.
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Connor Murphy
•Thanks! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after getting laid off or can I file right away?
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Amelia Dietrich
File as soon as possible - there's a waiting week but your claim starts from when you file, not when you lost your job. You'll also need to file weekly claims every week to get paid, even while your initial claim is being processed.
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Kaiya Rivera
•What if I don't have all my old employer information? I worked for a bunch of different contractors over the past year and don't remember all the exact dates.
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Amelia Dietrich
•Get as close as you can with the dates - NYS Department of Labor will verify your employment history with employers anyway. Just make sure you list all jobs from the past 18 months even if you're not 100% sure on exact start/end dates.
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Katherine Ziminski
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed help with my application. If you run into issues and can't reach them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me when I was stuck.
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Noah Irving
•Sounds sketchy... why would you need to pay someone to call NYS Department of Labor for you?
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Katherine Ziminski
•It's not about paying someone to call - it's about getting through the busy phone lines. Trust me, when you've been trying to reach them for days and getting hung up on, you'll understand why people use it.
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Vanessa Chang
Make sure you have your bank account info ready too for direct deposit setup. Also heads up - after you file your initial claim you'll need to do job search activities and report them when you file your weekly claims. NYS Department of Labor requires you to look for work unless you're on standby status.
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Connor Murphy
•How many jobs do I need to apply to each week? And what counts as job search activities?
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Madison King
Job search requirements are 3 work search activities per week unless you're in a union with a hiring hall or have return-to-work date within 10 weeks. Activities include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or taking training courses. Keep detailed records of everything you do.
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