What happens after you apply for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - confused about next steps
I submitted my unemployment application through my.ny.gov three days ago and I'm honestly not sure what I should be expecting next. The confirmation screen said my application was received but now what? Do I just wait for them to contact me or am I supposed to be doing something? I've never filed for unemployment before and the NYS Department of Labor website isn't super clear about the timeline. Should I already be filing weekly claims or do I wait until they approve my application first? Any guidance would be really appreciated!
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Khalil Urso
After you submit your initial application, NYS Department of Labor typically takes 1-2 weeks to process it. You should receive a monetary determination letter that shows your benefit rate and claim balance. During this time, you need to start filing your weekly claims immediately - don't wait for approval. You can file these on my.ny.gov starting the Sunday after you applied. Even if your claim is still pending, filing weekly keeps your claim active.
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Nasira Ibanez
•Oh wow I had no idea I was supposed to start filing weekly claims already! I thought I had to wait. Should I file for this past week even though it's been a few days?
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Myles Regis
yeah definitely file your weekly claims ASAP, even if ur claim is still processing. i made that mistake when i first applied and it delayed everything by like 3 weeks because i missed filing
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Nasira Ibanez
•Thanks for the heads up! Going to file my weekly claim right now.
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Brian Downey
The process usually goes like this: 1) Initial application reviewed 2) Monetary determination sent 3) Weekly claims processed 4) Job search requirements kick in. You'll also need to register with the NYS job search system and start logging your work search activities. Keep detailed records of every job you apply to because they can audit your search efforts at any time.
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Jacinda Yu
•Wait, how many jobs do you have to apply to each week? And do they actually check or is it just on the honor system?
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Brian Downey
•You need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week unless you're on standby status. They do random audits and if you can't provide documentation, they'll disqualify you and demand repayment of benefits.
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Landon Flounder
One thing that really helped me when I was dealing with NYS Department of Labor was using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to speak with someone. I was stuck for weeks not knowing if my application was processing correctly and couldn't get anyone on the phone. Their service connected me directly to an agent who explained exactly where my claim stood. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Honestly saved me so much stress.
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Nasira Ibanez
•That sounds helpful - I've been worried about not being able to reach anyone if something goes wrong with my claim.
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Callum Savage
Just be prepared for potential delays if there are any issues with your application. Mine went into adjudication because my last employer disputed something and it took 6 weeks to resolve. The waiting is the worst part honestly.
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Sofia Torres
I'm in a similar situation - just applied last week and feeling totally lost about the process! This thread is super helpful. One question though - when you file your weekly claims, do you need to have documentation ready of your job search activities right away, or is that something that comes later? I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly from the start.
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