What if I forgot to file my weekly unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor?
I completely spaced out and forgot to file my weekly claim by Sunday. I've been getting unemployment for about 6 weeks now and this is the first time I missed the deadline. I usually file on Saturday but had a family emergency and it totally slipped my mind. When I tried to log in today (Tuesday) the system won't let me certify for last week. Am I screwed? Will I lose my benefits entirely or can I still get paid for that week somehow? I really can't afford to lose that money right now.
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Jasmine Quinn
Don't panic! You can still file a late claim but you'll need to call NYS Department of Labor directly. You have to provide a valid reason for the late filing - family emergency definitely qualifies. Call the claims center and explain what happened. They can manually process your weekly claim for that week.
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Victoria Charity
•Thank you! Do you know what number I should call? I've tried the main unemployment line before and could never get through.
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Oscar Murphy
I did this exact same thing about 3 months ago. You won't lose your ongoing benefits but you might not get paid for that specific week unless you can prove it was beyond your control. Family emergency should work though. Make sure you have documentation if they ask for it.
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Victoria Charity
•What kind of documentation did they want from you? I have hospital records from the emergency if that helps.
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Oscar Murphy
•Hospital records would be perfect. They just want proof that you had a legitimate reason for missing the deadline.
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Nora Bennett
ugh the phone lines are impossible!! i've been trying to reach someone at unemployment for weeks about a different issue. you might want to try calling right when they open at 8am, that's when i finally got through last time
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Ryan Andre
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you reach an agent. I used it when I was stuck in adjudication hell and couldn't get anyone on the phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you keep getting busy signals.
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Victoria Charity
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point.
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Ryan Andre
•Yeah it's legitimate. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They basically handle the calling for you and connect you when they get an agent on the line.
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Lauren Zeb
Just keep filing your current weeks on time while you sort this out. Don't let one missed week mess up your whole claim. The system is automated so as long as you stay current going forward you should be fine.
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Daniel Washington
This happened to my cousin and she never got that week back even though she called. The NYS Department of Labor rep told her that missing the deadline means you forfeit that week's benefits period. Maybe it depends on who you talk to but just wanted to give you a heads up that it might not work out.
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Jasmine Quinn
•That's not correct. Late filing is allowed for good cause. Your cousin might not have provided adequate documentation or explanation.
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Mateo Silva
I work as a benefits advocate and can confirm that NYS allows late filing for good cause within 30 days of the missed deadline. Family emergency absolutely qualifies. When you call, be prepared to explain the situation clearly and mention you have hospital documentation ready if needed. The key is being persistent - if the first rep says no, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. Also, make sure you continue filing your weekly certifications on time going forward so this doesn't impact your ongoing eligibility. Don't let anyone tell you that missing one week forfeits it permanently - that's not how the system works when you have valid cause.
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Chloe Green
•This is really helpful, thank you @Mateo Silva! It's reassuring to hear from someone who works in this field. I have the hospital records ready and will definitely be persistent if they give me pushback. Quick question - when you say "within 30 days" does that clock start from the missed deadline or from when I first try to file the late claim? I missed Sunday's deadline so I want to make sure I'm not running out of time.
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