Where can I file for unemployment benefits in New York - need help starting claim
Just lost my job last week and I have no idea where to actually file for unemployment benefits. I've been looking online but there are so many different websites and I'm worried about going to the wrong place. Can someone tell me exactly where I need to go to file my initial claim? Also do I need to go somewhere in person or can I do this online? I live in Albany if that matters. Really stressed about this whole process and don't want to mess anything up.
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Daniel Rogers
You file everything online through the NYS Department of Labor website at labor.ny.gov. You'll need to create an account on their system and file your initial claim there. Don't go to any third-party sites - stick with the official NYS Department of Labor portal. You can also call their UI helpline but online is usually faster. Make sure you have your social security number, driver's license, and employment history ready before you start.
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Zara Perez
•Thanks! So I don't need to visit an office in person at all? And when you say employment history, how far back do they need?
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Aaliyah Reed
yeah what they said about labor.ny.gov is right. did mine there last month. you need like 18 months of work history i think? maybe more. honestly the website walks you through it step by step so dont worry too much
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Ella Russell
The official website is your best bet, but fair warning - the NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely brutal if you need to speak to someone. I spent weeks trying to get through when my claim had issues. If you run into problems and can't reach anyone, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get connected to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me a ton of frustration when I was stuck in adjudication.
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Mohammed Khan
•Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or just another way to take advantage of people who are already struggling financially?
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Ella Russell
•It's legitimate - they just help you get through the phone system faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.
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Gavin King
Just make sure you file as soon as possible after losing your job! There's usually a waiting period anyway but you don't want to delay getting the process started. The NYS Department of Labor system can be slow and if there are any issues with your claim it takes forever to sort out. Also start looking for work immediately because you'll need to do job searches every week.
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Nathan Kim
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment because they said i had some issue that needed adjudication and nobody could explain what that even meant. good luck dealing with NYS Department of Labor bureaucracy
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Zara Perez
•That's exactly what I'm worried about! What ended up happening with your claim?
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