What happens when I file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - step by step process?
I just lost my job yesterday and need to understand what exactly happens when I file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor. I've never done this before and I'm honestly pretty confused about the whole process. Do I file online? How long does it take to get approved? When do I start getting payments? Also worried about whether I'll qualify since I was only at my last job for 8 months. Can someone walk me through what actually happens step by step after I submit my initial application?
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Lucas Parker
Here's what happens when you file: First, you apply online at my.ny.gov. NYS Department of Labor will review your application and work history to determine if you qualify. You'll get a monetary determination letter showing your weekly benefit amount. Then you start filing weekly claims every Sunday. The whole process usually takes 2-3 weeks for first payment if there are no issues. Since you worked 8 months, you should qualify as long as you earned enough wages in your base period.
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Katherine Hunter
•Thank you! What's a base period exactly? And do I need to wait to file my first weekly claim or can I do it right away?
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Donna Cline
File as soon as possible because benefits don't backdate to when you lost your job, only to when you file. The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. So if you file now in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. You'll need to file weekly claims starting the week after you file your initial application.
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Harper Collins
•wait i thought you could backdate claims? i filed late last year and they let me backdate...
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Donna Cline
•Only in very specific circumstances like if you had good cause for the delay. Generally NYS Department of Labor doesn't allow backdating so it's best to file immediately.
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Kelsey Hawkins
One thing to be prepared for - if there are ANY issues with your claim it goes into adjudication which can take FOREVER. I've been waiting 5 weeks for them to review something and I can't get through on the phone to find out what's happening. The whole system is so frustrating!
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Dylan Fisher
•Same here with the phone situation. I finally used claimyr.com to get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. They have this system that calls for you and connects you when someone picks up. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Kelsey Hawkins
•Interesting, never heard of that service before. Did they charge you for it?
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Dylan Fisher
•Yeah but it was worth it to actually talk to someone and get my adjudication resolved. Way better than spending entire days redialing.
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Edwards Hugo
Also make sure you understand the job search requirements! You'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search activities at any time.
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Katherine Hunter
•Do they really check the job search log? What counts as a valid job contact?
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Gianna Scott
been there done that, whole thing takes forever and the website crashes all the time
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