What is required to file for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?

You'll need several key items for your initial claim filing: your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, complete employment history for the past 18 months (employer names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation), your most recent pay stub showing year-to-date earnings, and bank account information for direct deposit. Make sure you have exact addresses and phone numbers for all employers - NYS Department of Labor will verify this information during adjudication.

also make sure you file right away! theres a waiting period but you want to get your claim date established asap. i waited a week thinking i needed more paperwork and that cost me money

The most important thing people miss is having accurate wage information. NYS Department of Labor will check your reported wages against employer records, so any discrepancies can delay your claim in adjudication. If you don't have all your pay stubs, you can still file - they'll verify with employers directly. Also, be prepared to register for work search requirements immediately after filing your initial claim.

I struggled with getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions during my filing process. The phone lines are constantly busy and the online chat rarely works. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really saved me time and stress when I needed to clarify some employment dates that were confusing me.

One thing they don't tell you upfront - if you have ANY questions about your employment history or eligibility, expect your claim to go into adjudication. Mine sat there for 3 weeks because I had a brief contract job that ended right before my layoff. The NYS Department of Labor system flags anything that looks remotely complicated and then you're stuck waiting for a human to review it.