What to do after filing for unemployment - NYS Department of Labor next steps?
Just submitted my initial unemployment claim through the NYS Department of Labor website yesterday and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do next. The confirmation page mentioned something about weekly claims but I didn't save it and now I can't find clear instructions anywhere. Do I need to wait for something in the mail before I can start filing weekly claims? Also confused about the job search requirements - when do those kick in and how many jobs do I need to apply for? This is my first time dealing with unemployment so any guidance would be really helpful.
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Amara Torres
After filing your initial claim, you'll typically receive a monetary determination letter within 7-10 business days that shows your weekly benefit amount. You should start filing weekly claims immediately - don't wait for the letter. Log into your my.ny.gov account and look for the 'File Weekly Claim' option. For job search requirements, you need to make at least 3 work search contacts per week starting the second week you claim benefits. Keep detailed records of all your job applications.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Thank you! I was worried I had to wait for paperwork first. Should I be applying for jobs this week even though I just filed yesterday?
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Olivia Van-Cleve
Make sure you file your weekly claims every single week even if your initial claim is still being processed. I made the mistake of waiting and it delayed my benefits by weeks. The NYS Department of Labor system is pretty specific about the timing - you have to certify each week that you're actively looking for work and available to work.
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Mason Kaczka
•This is so important! I know someone who missed filing for two weeks and had to jump through hoops to get those weeks back.
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Sophia Russo
honestly the whole system is confusing as hell... i filed 3 weeks ago and still haven't gotten my first payment, keep getting told to "wait for adjudication" whatever that means. but yeah definitely start filing weekly claims right away, that much i figured out
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Evelyn Xu
If you're having trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor phone lines to ask questions (and trust me, you probably will), I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to a real 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 calling and getting busy signals when I needed to clarify my claim status.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•Interesting, I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues. Hopefully I won't need to call anyone but good to know there's an option.
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Dominic Green
One thing they don't tell you upfront - keep EVERYTHING documented. Every job you apply for, every contact you make, dates and times of phone calls to NYS Department of Labor. I had to provide all this during an eligibility review and was glad I kept good records. Also screenshot your weekly claim confirmations in case the system glitches.
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Malik Robinson
Just to add to what others have said - you can actually file your first weekly claim the same week you submit your initial application, you don't have to wait. The key thing is to file by Sunday night each week for the previous week. And regarding job search requirements, yes you should start applying for jobs right away even though the formal requirement doesn't kick in until your second week of benefits. It shows good faith effort and you'll already have a head start on meeting the 3 contacts per week requirement. The my.ny.gov portal has a work search log feature that makes tracking applications easier too.
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