What is the unemployment process with NYS Department of Labor - confused about everything

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a temporary benefit program that provides financial assistance when you lose your job through no fault of your own. It's not welfare - you and your employer paid into this system while you were working. You don't have to pay it back unless you receive benefits you weren't entitled to. The NYS Department of Labor administers this program in New York. You'll need to file an initial claim, then file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits. The amount depends on your previous wages, but there's a maximum weekly benefit amount.

The easiest way is to file online through the NYS Department of Labor website at labor.ny.gov. You'll create an account and answer questions about your work history and why you're unemployed. If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not qualify. But if you were laid off, your hours were reduced, or similar situations, you should be eligible. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment dates, and employer information ready.

I went through this exact same confusion when I first filed! The biggest thing to understand is that you have to keep filing weekly claims even after your initial application. Every week you have to certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work. The NYS Department of Labor also requires you to do job search activities - you can't just sit around waiting for benefits. There are specific requirements about how many jobs you need to apply for each week.

One thing nobody tells you is how long everything takes with the NYS Department of Labor. Don't expect to get money right away. There's usually a waiting period, and if there are any issues with your claim it can go into something called adjudication which can take weeks to resolve. I'd recommend trying to contact them directly if you have questions, but good luck getting through on the phone - the lines are always busy. I actually found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Just file as soon as possible! Even if you're not sure about all the details, it's better to get the process started. You can always call them later to clarify things. The most important thing is not to wait because there might be a delay in when your benefits start.