Where to apply for unemployment near me - NYS Department of Labor locations?
I got laid off yesterday and need to file for unemployment benefits but I'm not sure where to apply for unemployment near me. Do I need to go to a physical NYS Department of Labor office or can I do everything online? I live in Rochester and work has been telling people different things about the process. Some coworkers said you have to go in person but others said it's all done on the website now. I'm really confused about the whole process and don't want to mess anything up since I need these benefits to pay my rent.
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DeShawn Washington
You can file your entire unemployment claim online through the my.ny.gov website - no need to visit a physical NYS Department of Labor office unless you have special circumstances. The online system is actually preferred and much faster than trying to call or visit in person. Just go to labor.ny.gov and look for the unemployment services section to get started.
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Lena Kowalski
•Thanks! So I don't need to find a local office at all? That's a relief because I wasn't sure if there was even one in Rochester.
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Mei-Ling Chen
yeah the whole thing is online now, been that way for years. i filed last month when my job cut hours and it was pretty straightforward. just make sure you have your social security card and employment history ready when you start the application
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Sofía Rodríguez
The online system through my.ny.gov is definitely the way to go. You'll need to create an account if you don't have one already, then navigate to the NYS Department of Labor unemployment services. Have your last employer's information ready including dates of employment and reason for separation. The system will walk you through everything step by step.
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Aiden O'Connor
•What if I can't remember exact dates from previous jobs? I've had like 3 different employers in the past 18 months and I'm worried about getting the timeline wrong.
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Sofía Rodríguez
•Do your best with the dates - they mainly care about your most recent employer for the initial claim. You can check old pay stubs or tax documents if you have them. The NYS Department of Labor will verify employment history with employers directly anyway.
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Zoe Papadopoulos
If you're having trouble getting through the online system or need to speak with someone, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to actual NYS Department of Labor agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call the regular number and getting busy signals.
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Lena Kowalski
•Is that like a paid service or something? I'm already stressed about money so I don't want to pay extra fees if I don't have to.
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Jamal Brown
•I used them too when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Really helpful for getting through to someone who can actually look at your account instead of just reading you the same info that's on the website.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
The whole system is such a mess honestly. I tried filing online three times last year and kept getting error messages. Finally had to drive to Buffalo to find an office that was actually open and even then they just told me to use the website LOL. But yeah start with my.ny.gov and see how it goes
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Giovanni Rossi
Just filed mine last week, super easy! The my.ny.gov portal works great now. Make sure you file within the first week of being unemployed or you might miss out on benefits for that week. Also Rochester doesn't have a walk-in center anymore - everything really is online or by phone these days.
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Lena Kowalski
•Good to know about the timing! I'll get started on it today then. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Steven Adams
Hey Lena! Just wanted to add that when you file online, make sure to keep records of everything - screenshot your confirmation page and save any reference numbers they give you. Also, you'll need to certify for benefits every week after your initial claim, which you can also do through the my.ny.gov portal. The first payment usually takes 2-3 weeks to process, so don't panic if you don't see money right away. Good luck with everything!
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