Where do I apply for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?
I just got laid off from my warehouse job yesterday and I need to figure out where to apply for unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and I'm kind of panicking about how I'm going to pay rent next month. Can someone walk me through where exactly I need to go to file my claim? I keep seeing different websites when I google it and I don't want to mess this up.
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Marcus Patterson
You need to apply through the official NYS Department of Labor website at labor.ny.gov. Look for the 'Unemployment Insurance' section and click on 'File a Claim.' You'll create an account on their system and fill out the application online. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and your most recent pay stub ready before you start.
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Eli Butler
•Thank you! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after getting laid off, or should I apply right away?
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Lydia Bailey
Apply as soon as possible! There's a one-week waiting period before benefits start, but your claim is dated from when you file it, not when you got laid off. The NYS Department of Labor system can be slow sometimes, so don't wait. You can also call 1-888-4-NYSDOL if you need help, but the online application is usually faster.
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Mateo Warren
•Good luck getting through on that phone line though... I tried calling for three days straight last month and kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting for hours.
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Sofia Price
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone (which is super common), I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It saved me so much frustration when I had questions about my claim status.
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Alice Coleman
•Never heard of that before. Is it legit or is there a catch?
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Sofia Price
•It's legit - they just help you get through the phone system to talk to NYS Department of Labor staff. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I couldn't get through any other way.
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Owen Jenkins
whatever you do DON'T use any third party websites that claim to help you apply for unemployment!! stick to the official labor.ny.gov site only. there are scammers out there trying to steal peoples info
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Eli Butler
•Good point, I'll make sure to only use the official site. Thanks for the warning!
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