What is applying for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor - complete beginner guide needed

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a safety net program that provides temporary financial assistance when you lose your job through no fault of your own. You apply through the NYS Department of Labor website at my.ny.gov. The process involves creating an account, filing an initial claim with your employment history, and then filing weekly claims to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work. The benefit amount is based on your previous earnings, typically around 50% of your average weekly wage up to a maximum. You don't pay it back unless you're found ineligible later.

The whole thing is done online now. Go to my.ny.gov and look for unemployment insurance. You'll need your Social Security number, previous employer info (addresses, dates worked, reason for separation), and bank account details for direct deposit. After you file your initial claim, you have to file weekly claims every week to get paid. Make sure you have all your employment info ready because they ask for detailed work history.

you dont NEED pay stubs to apply but having them helps if theres any issues later. the NYS Department of Labor can verify your wages with employers anyway. just make sure you remember your exact start and end dates for each job and why you left each one

One thing nobody mentions is that you have to actively look for work and keep a record of your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. They can ask to see this log at any time. Also, you have to register with the state job search website. Don't skip these requirements or you could lose your benefits.

omg the job search thing is so annoying!! I've been on unemployment for 2 months and having to apply to 3 jobs every single week is exhausting especially when half the job postings are fake or they never respond. but you HAVE to do it or they'll cut off your benefits. learned that the hard way when I missed a week of job searching

If you're having trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor phone lines (which happens A LOT), I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual 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 trying to call and getting busy signals.

The system is honestly pretty straightforward once you get started. Just be prepared for the initial claim to take a week or two to process, and your first payment might be delayed while they verify everything. Don't panic if it's not instant - that's normal.

Hey Connor! I was in a similar situation when I got laid off from my first job. One thing that really helped me was having all my documents organized before starting the application. Make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and any employment documents handy. Also, try to apply as soon as possible - there's usually a waiting period before benefits start, so the sooner you file, the better. The my.ny.gov website can be a bit overwhelming at first, but just take it step by step. Don't worry if you make mistakes on your first try - you can always call or reapply if needed. You've got this!