What documents are needed to apply for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?
I'm getting ready to file for unemployment and want to make sure I have everything ready before I start the application. What documents does NYS Department of Labor actually require when you apply? I've heard different things from people and want to be prepared so I don't have to stop halfway through. Also wondering if they need physical copies or if digital photos of documents work? Any help would be appreciated!
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Drake
You'll need your Social Security card, driver's license or state ID, and employment information for your last 18 months of work. That includes employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and your last day worked. If you have your most recent pay stub that helps too. NYS Department of Labor accepts digital photos of documents through their online system.
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Gabriel Graham
•Thanks! Do I need the exact addresses for every employer or just the general location?
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Sarah Jones
make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup, they ask for that during the application process
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Sebastian Scott
The employment history part is the most important - NYS Department of Labor uses this to calculate your benefit amount. You need employer contact info including phone numbers if possible. If you were laid off, having your separation notice or termination letter helps speed up the process. For each job, gather start date, end date, gross wages, and reason you left.
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Emily Sanjay
•What if I don't remember exact dates from a job I had like 15 months ago? Will they reject my application?
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Sebastian Scott
•They won't reject it but try to get as close as possible. You can check old tax documents or contact former employers for employment verification letters if needed.
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Jordan Walker
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to verify some of my employment info during my application. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through, the wait times were horrible. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to unemployment agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me resolve the employment verification issue quickly.
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Natalie Adams
•Never heard of this before but might be worth it if the phone lines are still as bad as they were last year
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Elijah O'Reilly
Also bring your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen - they need that for work authorization verification. And if you have any union information that's helpful too since it affects your benefit calculation.
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Natalie Adams
One thing people forget is if you had any severance pay or vacation payout when you left your job, NYS Department of Labor needs to know about that too. It can affect when your benefits start.
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Gabriel Graham
•Good point! I did get a small vacation payout. Do I need documentation for that or just need to report it?
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Dmitry Ivanov
•You should have documentation if possible - like your final pay stub showing the vacation payout or a letter from HR. But if you don't have it, you can still report the amount and dates. NYS DOL may follow up with your former employer to verify, so just be accurate with the numbers and timing.
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