What is an example of unemployment - just lost my job and confused about NYS Department of Labor benefits

Don't worry, you're not alone in feeling confused! Your situation is actually a perfect example of unemployment that qualifies for benefits. Being laid off through no fault of your own is exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for. You'll want to file your claim on the NY.gov website as soon as possible - don't wait. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. The process asks about your last employer, why you left, and your wages. Since you worked for 2 years, you should definitely have enough work history to qualify.

What is an example of unemployment? Well you just described it perfectly - involuntary job loss due to layoffs, company downsizing, or business closure. Other examples include being fired for reasons not related to misconduct (like poor performance that wasn't willful), or having your hours reduced below full-time. The key is that the job loss wasn't your fault. You can't get benefits if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct. Your retail layoff definitely qualifies. File online at my.ny.gov and you should get your first payment in about 2-3 weeks if everything goes smoothly.

been there!! lost my restaurant job in march and was SO confused about everything. the nys department of labor website is kinda overwhelming at first but just take it step by step. make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing or you'll lose those weeks

Ugh the whole system is such a nightmare to navigate when you're already stressed about money. I remember calling the NYS Department of Labor like 50 times trying to get through to someone when my claim got stuck in adjudication. If you run into issues getting through to them by phone (which you probably will), there's actually a service called Claimyr that can help you reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals when I needed to resolve an issue with my claim status.

Just want to add that you'll also need to do job search activities to keep getting benefits. Right now it's 3 job search activities per week and you have to keep a log. Examples include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or working with a career counselor. Don't skip this part because they do audit people randomly!

hang in there! same thing happened to me last year