Where do I file unemployment if I live and work in different places - NYS Department of Labor question
I'm really confused about where I'm supposed to file my unemployment claim. I live in one state but work in another state. Do I file with NYS Department of Labor or the state where I live? I've been getting different answers from people and I don't want to mess this up. My job is in New York but I commute from out of state every day. Can someone please clarify the rules for this situation?
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Sofia Torres
You file where you worked, not where you live. Since your job is in New York, you need to file with NYS Department of Labor. The state where you earned your wages is what matters for unemployment benefits. Go to labor.ny.gov to start your claim.
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Dylan Wright
•Thank you! That makes sense. I was worried I'd have to deal with two different states somehow.
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GalacticGuardian
yeah same situation here, worked in NY but live elsewhere and had to file with NYS Department of Labor
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Dmitry Smirnov
This is correct - it's based on where you worked and paid into the unemployment insurance system. Since you worked in New York, all your wages were reported to NYS Department of Labor and that's where your UI benefits come from. Make sure you have your employment history ready when you file online.
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Ava Rodriguez
•What if I worked in multiple states though? Do I have to file separate claims?
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Dmitry Smirnov
•No, you file in the state where you worked most recently. NYS Department of Labor can request wage information from other states if needed for your claim.
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Miguel Diaz
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about this exact thing. If you need to talk to someone directly about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Did that actually work? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my interstate work situation.
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Miguel Diaz
•Yeah it did! Got connected within like 20 minutes instead of the usual busy signals and hang ups.
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Connor Gallagher
just to add - make sure your address is updated in the system because they might mail important documents and you want them going to the right place even though you're filing with NYS Department of Labor
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Freya Christensen
This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar situation - I work in NYC but live in Connecticut. I was so confused about which state to file with, but now I understand it's definitely NYS Department of Labor since that's where my employer is located and where my wages were reported. Thanks everyone for clarifying this - it's such a common situation for people who commute across state lines but the rules aren't always clear when you're stressed about being unemployed.
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