What information do you need to file NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim - complete checklist?
I'm about to file my first unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor and want to make sure I have everything ready before I start the application. I've heard horror stories about people getting stuck in adjudication because they didn't have the right documents or made mistakes on their initial filing. Can someone give me a complete list of what information I need to gather before I begin? I lost my job last week due to layoffs and really don't want to mess this up or cause any delays in getting benefits.
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Aaliyah Reed
You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, complete employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also gather your most recent pay stubs, bank account information for direct deposit, and if you were laid off, any separation paperwork from your employer. Make sure you have exact dates - NYS Department of Labor is very particular about accuracy.
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Daniel Rogers
•Thanks! Do I need tax forms like W-2s or just the pay stubs? And what if I worked for a temp agency - do I list each assignment separately?
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Ella Russell
Don't forget you'll also need to register for work search requirements right away. NYS Department of Labor requires you to create an account on jobs.ny.gov and be ready to start your job search activities immediately. You need to be able and available for work to qualify for benefits. Also have your alien registration number ready if you're not a US citizen.
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Mohammed Khan
•Wait, do you have to register for job search before filing the claim or can you do it after? I thought you had a few days to set that up.
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Ella Russell
•You can do it within your first week of claiming benefits, but it's easier to have everything set up beforehand. The system will ask you about your work search activities when you file your first weekly claim.
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Gavin King
Pro tip - if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your application, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Was way easier than spending hours on hold trying to get through myself.
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Daniel Rogers
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money with being unemployed.
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Gavin King
•It's worth checking out their site for the details, but honestly it saved me so much time and frustration when I had questions about my claim status. Sometimes it's worth it to get real answers instead of guessing.
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Nathan Kim
ugh the whole process is such a nightmare... i filed last month and they wanted like 10 different pieces of info i didnt have ready and now my claim is stuck somewhere in their system. definitely get EVERYTHING together first because going back to add stuff later is a pain
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Daniel Rogers
•What specific things did you not have ready? I want to avoid whatever mistakes you made.
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Eleanor Foster
Also make sure you have accurate gross wages for each employer, not just net pay. NYS Department of Labor calculates your benefit amount based on gross wages, and if you report the wrong amounts it can delay your claim or create overpayment issues later. Keep all your documentation in case they need to verify anything during adjudication.
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Lucas Turner
Same boat here - just got laid off and trying to get all my ducks in a row before filing. This thread is super helpful!
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