Where do I file unemployment if I work remotely for a company in another state - NYS Department of Labor?
I've been working remotely from my apartment in Buffalo for a tech company that's based in Texas for the past 2 years. My employer just laid off half the engineering team including me. I'm really confused about where I'm supposed to file my unemployment claim. Do I file with NYS Department of Labor since I live and work from here, or do I need to file in Texas where the company is located? I've never dealt with unemployment before and don't want to mess this up. The company's HR department wasn't very helpful when I asked.
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Chloe Martin
You file where you physically work, not where the company is headquartered. Since you work from home in New York, you'll file with NYS Department of Labor. The key factor is your work location, not the employer's location. Go to my.ny.gov to start your claim.
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AstroAce
AuthorThat makes sense, thank you! Do I need any special documentation since it's a remote job?
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Diego Rojas
Same situation happened to me last year with a California company. Filed with NYS Department of Labor no problem. Just make sure you have your W-2 and pay stubs showing you worked in NY.
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AstroAce
AuthorGood to know it worked out for you. Did NYS Department of Labor ask for any proof that you worked remotely?
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Anastasia Sokolov
Actually this can get complicated depending on which state you paid taxes in. If your employer withheld Texas state taxes (which doesn't exist) or another state's taxes, that could affect your claim. Most remote workers pay taxes in their residence state though. You'll definitely want to file with NYS Department of Labor but have your tax documents ready in case they ask questions during adjudication.
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AstroAce
AuthorI paid NY state taxes on all my income, so that should be straightforward then.
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Sean O'Donnell
If you run into issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to clarify this, I had good luck using claimyr.com. They helped me get connected to an actual agent when I was stuck in phone hell for weeks. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Was way easier than trying to call myself.
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Zara Ahmed
Never heard of that service but might try it if I can't get through. NYS Department of Labor phone lines are always busy.
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StarStrider
wait so if i work remote for a company in florida but live in rochester i file here? this is confusing
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Chloe Martin
Yes, you file where you live and work from (Rochester = New York = NYS Department of Labor). The employer's location doesn't matter for unemployment claims.
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Eduardo Silva
Just went through this exact situation myself! I was working remotely from Albany for a company in Seattle when I got laid off last month. Filed with NYS Department of Labor online and it was pretty straightforward. The key thing is to have all your employment documentation ready - W-2s, final pay stub, and the separation notice from your employer if they provided one. Since you've been working from Buffalo for 2 years, you'll definitely qualify for NY benefits. The online system at my.ny.gov walks you through everything step by step. Good luck!
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Elijah Brown
I had a very similar experience when I was laid off from a remote position with a company based in North Carolina while living in Rochester. Filed with NYS Department of Labor and everything went smoothly. One thing that really helped was making sure I had clear documentation that I was working from my home address in NY - things like internet/utility bills showing my work-from-home setup, and any company communications that referenced my NY work location. NYS Department of Labor processed my claim without any issues. The remote work aspect really doesn't complicate things as much as you might think. Since you've been consistently working from Buffalo for 2 years, you should be all set to file with NY. Just make sure to be thorough with your documentation when you apply online at my.ny.gov.
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Josef Tearle
That's a great point about having documentation of your work-from-home setup! I hadn't thought about keeping utility bills or internet records as proof of working from my Buffalo address. It makes sense that having that kind of backup documentation would help if NYS Department of Labor needs to verify your work location. I've been pretty good about keeping all my employment paperwork, but I'll make sure to gather those home office related documents too before I file. Thanks for the practical tip - it's those real-world details that make all the difference when you're actually going through the process.
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Liam O'Donnell
I was in almost the exact same situation last year - working remotely from Utica for a company headquartered in Colorado when they had massive layoffs. Filed with NYS Department of Labor and the whole process was surprisingly straightforward. The online application at my.ny.gov has a specific section for remote workers where you can clearly indicate you worked from your home address in NY. What really helped me was having my most recent pay stub that showed NY state tax withholdings and my W-2 from the previous year. NYS Department of Labor never even questioned the out-of-state employer aspect - they just cared that I was physically working in New York. One small tip: when filling out the application, be very clear in the "work location" field that you worked from your Buffalo home address for the full 2 years. This prevents any confusion later. The benefits kicked in within about 3 weeks and I never had to deal with any complications about the Texas company location. You've got this!
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Mia Rodriguez
This is exactly what I needed to hear! The detail about the online application having a specific section for remote workers is super helpful - I was wondering how to properly communicate that aspect when filing. Your tip about being very clear in the "work location" field makes total sense too. It sounds like as long as you're upfront about working from your NY home address and have the documentation to back it up (pay stubs with NY taxes, W-2s, etc.), NYS Department of Labor treats it just like any other in-state employment. Really appreciate you sharing the timeline too - knowing it took about 3 weeks gives me realistic expectations. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Ethan Brown
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - working remotely from Brooklyn for a company based in Phoenix. This thread has been incredibly reassuring! Based on everyone's experiences, it's clear that you file with NYS Department of Labor since that's where you physically work from. I've been keeping all my documentation organized just in case (W-2s showing NY taxes, pay stubs, home office setup records), and it sounds like being prepared with that paperwork makes the whole process much smoother. The tip about the online application at my.ny.gov having a specific section for remote workers is really helpful - I was worried about how to properly explain my work situation. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real experiences, especially the timeline expectations and specific documentation tips. It's amazing how common this scenario has become with remote work, but at least the filing process seems pretty standardized now. Good luck with your claim - sounds like you'll be fine!
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