What do I need to claim unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - first time filer
I just got laid off from my retail job yesterday and I've never filed for unemployment before. What exactly do I need to gather before I start my claim with NYS Department of Labor? I have my social security card and driver's license but I'm not sure what else they want. Do I need pay stubs or tax forms? Also how soon should I file - is there a deadline? Really stressed about this whole process and don't want to mess anything up.
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Sophia Carson
You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment information for the last 18 months. This includes employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Having your last pay stub helps too. You should file as soon as possible - benefits start from the week you file, not when you lost your job. Don't wait!
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Ana Erdoğan
•Thank you! Do I need actual addresses or just company names? I worked at a few different places over the past year.
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Elijah Knight
Go to labor.ny.gov and click on unemployment insurance. You can file online 24/7. Make sure you have your bank account info for direct deposit too - much faster than waiting for a debit card. The system will walk you through everything step by step.
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Brooklyn Foley
ugh the NYS Department of Labor website is so confusing though... took me forever to figure out where to actually start my claim. and then they ask for like a million details about previous jobs
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Elijah Knight
•It is overwhelming at first but just take it one section at a time. Have all your info ready before you start so you don't time out.
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Jay Lincoln
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me when I was stuck on my application.
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Jessica Suarez
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money.
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Jay Lincoln
•It's worth checking out their site for the details. For me it was way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on.
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Marcus Williams
Also don't forget you'll need to do weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. And they have job search requirements now - you need to do work search activities and keep a log. The whole system is such a pain but at least the money helps while you're looking.
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Lily Young
Good luck! I just went through this process last month and it's really not as scary as it seems once you get started.
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