What documents are needed for unemployment benefits in NYS - complete list?
I'm about to file for unemployment for the first time and I want to make sure I have everything ready before I start the application. I've been working at a manufacturing company for 2 years but they're laying off half the workforce next month. What is needed for unemployment benefits application with NYS Department of Labor? I know I need my SSN and some work history but I'm not sure what else. Should I gather pay stubs, tax forms, or other documents? Also do I need anything special since this is a layoff situation? Really don't want to mess this up or have delays because I'm missing something important.
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Fernanda Marquez
For your initial NYS Department of Labor application you'll need: Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, complete work history for the last 18 months (employer names, addresses, dates worked, reason for leaving), your most recent pay stub, and bank account info for direct deposit. Since it's a layoff you shouldn't need separation paperwork but keep any layoff notice they give you. The online application at my.ny.gov will walk you through everything step by step.
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Aidan Percy
•Thanks! Do I need actual physical pay stubs or can I use digital copies from our payroll system?
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Norman Fraser
digital copies work fine, just make sure you can read all the info clearly
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Kendrick Webb
Also gather your bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit setup. NYS Department of Labor requires this during the application process. If you have multiple jobs in the last 18 months, get exact start/end dates for each one. The system is picky about dates being accurate. For a layoff situation, you might also want to keep any WARN notice or company announcement about the layoffs as backup documentation.
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Hattie Carson
•What if I don't remember exact dates from a job I had 15 months ago? Will they reject my application if I'm off by a few days?
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Kendrick Webb
•They won't reject it but being as accurate as possible helps avoid adjudication delays. Check old tax documents or call your former employer's HR if you're unsure about dates.
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Destiny Bryant
been there with the layoff thing, make sure you apply RIGHT AWAY don't wait!! the sooner you file the sooner your claim starts even if it takes time to process. also if you're getting severance pay that might affect when your benefits start so mention that in the application
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Dyllan Nantx
I had so much trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when I had questions during my application process. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent who helped me understand what documents I was missing. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me from weeks of frustration trying to get answers about my specific situation.
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Aidan Percy
•That's interesting, I've never heard of that service. Did it actually help you get through faster?
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Dyllan Nantx
•Yeah it connected me to an agent within like 20 minutes instead of the 3+ hour wait times I was getting when calling directly. Was worth it just to get my questions answered quickly.
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TillyCombatwarrior
One thing nobody mentions - if you have a 401k loan or any garnishments from your pay, bring documentation of that too. NYS Department of Labor might need to know about it depending on your situation. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.
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Zadie Patel
Great advice everyone! Just to add - if you've had any name changes in the past 18 months (marriage, divorce, legal name change), bring documentation of that too like marriage certificate or court order. NYS DOL needs to match your SSN with the name on your work records. Also, if you worked for any temporary agencies or had 1099 contract work, gather those records as well since they count toward your work history. The key is being thorough upfront to avoid delays later.
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Ben Cooper
•This is really helpful! I didn't think about name changes or temp agency work. Quick question - for the 1099 contract work, do I need the actual 1099 forms or just the work dates and payment info? I did some freelance work about a year ago but I'm not sure where I put those tax documents.
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