What happens after I file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I just submitted my initial unemployment application through my.ny.gov yesterday and I'm not really sure what comes next. This is my first time filing for unemployment benefits in New York. The system said my claim was submitted successfully but I haven't heard anything back yet. Should I expect some kind of confirmation? Do I need to do anything else right now or just wait? I'm worried I might miss some important step and mess up my claim before it even gets started.
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Sofia Torres
After you file your initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, you should receive a monetary determination letter within 7-10 business days. This will tell you your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for. You'll also need to start filing weekly claims even before you get that letter - you can do this through my.ny.gov starting the week after you filed your initial application.
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Dylan Campbell
•Oh wow I didn't know I had to start filing weekly claims right away! When exactly should I file my first one?
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Dmitry Sokolov
yeah you gotta file every week or you lose those weeks permanently. learned that the hard way when i filed last year and missed my first two weeks thinking i had to wait for approval first.
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Dylan Campbell
•That's exactly what I was worried about! Going to file my weekly claim today just to be safe.
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Ava Martinez
The process is pretty straightforward once you understand the timeline. After your initial filing, NYS Department of Labor reviews your employment history and determines if you're eligible. If there are any issues with your claim, it goes into adjudication which can take several weeks. You'll also need to register for work search activities and start looking for employment immediately. Keep detailed records of all your job search efforts because you'll need to report them when filing your weekly claims.
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Miguel Ramos
•What exactly counts as valid job search activities? I've been applying online but wasn't sure if that's enough for NYS Department of Labor requirements.
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Ava Martinez
•Online applications definitely count! You need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week. This can include job applications, networking contacts, attending job fairs, or working with career counselors. Just make sure to keep records with dates, company names, and contact information.
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QuantumQuasar
If you run into problems reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about your claim status, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent when the phone lines are jammed. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.
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Zainab Omar
•Interesting, never heard of that before. How does it actually work to get you through to NYS Department of Labor?
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QuantumQuasar
•They basically handle the waiting and calling back for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours or keep getting disconnected. Really helpful when you have urgent questions about your claim.
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Connor Gallagher
Just wanted to add that you should expect to possibly wait a while for your first payment even after everything is approved. My experience with NYS Department of Labor was that it took about 3 weeks from when I filed until I got my first deposit, and that was without any complications. Make sure you have some savings to cover expenses during that waiting period.
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Dylan Campbell
•Three weeks seems like forever when you're not working! Good thing I have a little bit saved up. Thanks for the heads up.
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