What happens when an employee files for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - confused about the process
I'm totally new to this whole unemployment thing and honestly have no idea what I'm getting myself into. My manager told me they're letting me go next week due to budget cuts and mentioned I should file for unemployment benefits. But what actually happens when an employee files for unemployment? Like, does NYS Department of Labor contact my employer right away? Will my boss know immediately that I filed? I'm worried about burning bridges or causing drama during my last few days. Also, how long does the whole process take? I keep seeing people talk about adjudication and weekly claims but I don't even know what those terms mean. Someone please explain this like I'm five because I'm completely lost here.
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Sean Murphy
When you file for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor, here's what happens: First, you submit your initial application online through my.ny.gov. NYS Department of Labor will then verify your employment history and wages with your former employer - yes, they do contact employers as part of the standard process. Your employer receives a notice asking them to confirm details about your separation (dates, reason for leaving, wages). If there are no issues, you'll start filing weekly claims to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work. The whole process typically takes 2-3 weeks if everything goes smoothly.
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Anastasia Ivanova
•Okay so they definitely contact my employer. Will my boss be notified like immediately or does it take a few days? I really don't want any awkwardness during my transition out.
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StarStrider
been through this twice and yeah your employer gets notified but it's not immediate, usually takes like a week or so for them to get the paperwork from NYS Department of Labor asking about your employment details
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Zara Malik
The employer notification is just a standard administrative process - it's not personal and most employers expect it when they lay people off. NYS Department of Labor needs to verify you're eligible for benefits, so they confirm your work history, earnings, and the reason for separation. Since you're being laid off due to budget cuts (not fired for misconduct), you should qualify for benefits without any issues. The key things they check are: did you work enough quarters, did you earn enough wages, and were you separated through no fault of your own.
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Anastasia Ivanova
•That makes me feel better knowing it's just standard procedure. What's this adjudication thing people keep mentioning though?
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Zara Malik
•Adjudication happens when there's a question about your eligibility that needs investigation. For example, if your employer disputes the reason for separation or if there are discrepancies in the information. Since you're being laid off for budget reasons, you probably won't go through adjudication unless there's some confusion about the circumstances.
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Luca Marino
OMG I was so stressed about this same thing when I got laid off last year!!! I kept thinking my manager would be mad at me for filing but honestly they probably expect it and it's totally normal. The NYS Department of Labor process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Just make sure you file your weekly claims every week or you'll lose benefits for those weeks.
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Nia Davis
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status or ask questions, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck trying to call for weeks before someone told me about it.
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Mateo Perez
•interesting, never heard of that before. how much does something like that cost?
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Nia Davis
•They focus more on the value of actually getting through rather than the cost. For me it was worth it because I was getting nowhere with the regular phone system.
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Aisha Rahman
Just to add - make sure you start looking for work right away and keep a job search log. NYS Department of Labor requires you to be actively seeking employment to continue receiving benefits. You'll need to record your job search activities when you file your weekly claims.
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