Where can I apply for unemployment near me - NYS Department of Labor locations vs online?
I just lost my job yesterday and need to apply for unemployment benefits but I'm not sure where to go. Should I apply online through the NYS Department of Labor website or do I need to visit a physical office? I live in Albany and wondering if there are any local offices where I can apply for unemployment near me. I've never done this before and want to make sure I don't mess anything up. Really stressed about this whole situation.
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GalaxyGuardian
You should definitely apply online through the NYS Department of Labor website at labor.ny.gov. It's much faster than trying to visit an office in person. The online system is available 24/7 and you can complete your initial claim application from home. Make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and employment information from your last job ready before you start.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Thank you! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after losing my job or should I apply right away?
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Aisha Abdullah
Apply as soon as possible! There's no waiting period to file your initial claim. The sooner you apply, the sooner your claim can be processed. You'll need to file weekly claims after your initial application to continue receiving benefits, but start with the main application first.
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Ethan Wilson
•This is correct. I made the mistake of waiting a week before applying thinking I needed to wait and it just delayed my first payment.
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Yuki Tanaka
If you really want to visit an office, there are NYS Department of Labor career centers but honestly the online system is so much easier. I tried calling their phone number first and was on hold for like 2 hours before giving up and just doing it online.
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Carmen Diaz
•Yeah the phone system is terrible. If you absolutely need to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.
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Andre Laurent
just do it online its way faster than going anywhere
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Thanks everyone, I'll apply online tonight!
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