What is the website to apply for unemployment in New York?
I just got laid off from my job at a retail store last week and need to file for unemployment benefits. I've been searching online but there are so many different websites and I'm getting confused about which one is the official NYS Department of Labor site. Can someone tell me the correct website to apply for unemployment in New York? I don't want to accidentally give my information to some scam site. Also, is there anything I need to have ready before I start the application?
9 comments
Join the conversation
Molly Hansen
The official website is my.ny.gov - that's the New York State government portal where you'll file your unemployment claim. You'll need to create an account if you don't already have one, then navigate to the unemployment insurance section. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready before you start.
0 coins
Connor Rupert
•Thank you! I was worried about using the wrong site. Do I need pay stubs or anything like that for the application?
0 coins
Brady Clean
Yes, my.ny.gov is correct. The NYS Department of Labor processes all unemployment claims through that portal. You'll want to apply as soon as possible since there's a waiting week and benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job. Have your last employer's information handy including their address and your dates of employment.
0 coins
Skylar Neal
ugh the my.ny.gov website is such a pain to use!! it crashes all the time and the unemployment section is buried in there somewhere. i spent like 2 hours trying to find where to actually file my claim when i got laid off
0 coins
Molly Hansen
•The site can be slow during peak times, especially Monday mornings. Try applying early morning or late evening when there's less traffic. Once you're logged in, look for 'Apply for Benefits' under the unemployment insurance section.
0 coins
Vincent Bimbach
I had so much trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor when I needed help with my application. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to 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 myself.
0 coins
Kelsey Chin
•interesting, never heard of that before. did they charge you anything for helping you get through?
0 coins
Vincent Bimbach
•They do charge a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone at the NYS Department of Labor instead of sitting on hold for hours. Much faster than trying to reach them on my own.
0 coins
Norah Quay
Just make sure when you're on my.ny.gov that you see the official New York State seal and everything. There are fake unemployment sites out there trying to steal people's info. The real site will never ask for upfront payments or weird personal details like your bank routing number during the initial application.
0 coins