What documents do I need for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?

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. NYS Department of Labor will also ask for your last employer's federal employer ID number if you have it. Make sure you file within one week of becoming unemployed to avoid any delays.

Thanks! Do I need actual pay stubs or just the employment dates and info?

You don't need to upload pay stubs when you first file, but keep them handy. NYS Department of Labor might request them later for verification. The most important thing is having accurate employment info - company names, addresses, your job title, and exact start/end dates. If you worked for multiple employers in the last 18 months, you'll need all of them.

Don't forget about the job search requirement! You'll need to register with jobs.ny.gov and start keeping a log of your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor requires at least 3 job contacts per week once your claim is established.

Oh wow, I didn't know about the job search log requirement. Is there a specific format I need to use?

You can use their online system to track job contacts or keep your own written log. Just make sure to record employer name, contact method, date, and position applied for.

been thru this process twice and honestly the hardest part is getting thru to someone at NYS Department of Labor when you have questions. the automated system hangs up on you half the time

I had the same problem trying to reach them about my adjudication issue. Found out about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to a real NYS Department of Labor agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.

Interesting, never heard of that. Might try it if I run into issues again.

Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup too. Also if you were in a union or had any pension contributions, that might affect your claim so have those details available.

One thing to add - if you were laid off, try to get a separation letter from your employer stating the reason (layoff, lack of work, etc.). While not absolutely required, it can really speed up the process since NYS Department of Labor won't have to contact your employer to verify the reason for separation. This is especially helpful if your former company is slow to respond to unemployment inquiries.