Where to file for unemployment person - NYS Department of Labor application process help
Hi everyone, I need to help my brother figure out where to file for unemployment person. He got laid off from his construction job last week and has never filed for benefits before. I know there's an online system but I'm not sure if he needs to go somewhere in person or if everything can be done online? He doesn't have great computer skills so I'm trying to help him out. What's the easiest way to get started with a NYS Department of Labor claim? Should he call first or just try the website?
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Sophie Duck
Everything is done online now through the my.ny.gov website. He'll need to create an account there first, then file his initial claim through the NYS Department of Labor portal. The whole process takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your information ready. He'll need his Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment.
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Lucas Lindsey
•Thanks! Do you know if there's any phone number he can call if he gets stuck during the online filing? He's really not good with computers.
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Austin Leonard
my cousin just filed last month and she said the website was pretty confusing. took her like 3 tries to get through it without errors
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Anita George
The key thing is to file as soon as possible - there's a waiting period before benefits start, so every day counts. Make sure he has his last pay stub and separation notice if his employer gave him one. If he gets stuck during the online process, there are help videos on the NYS Department of Labor website that walk through each step. Also, once he files the initial claim, he'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits.
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Lucas Lindsey
•Good point about filing quickly. I'll sit down with him this weekend and help him through the whole process.
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Abigail Spencer
I had such a hard time getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor when I needed help with my claim. The phone lines are always busy and you get disconnected constantly. Someone on here mentioned using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent - they have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth checking out if your brother runs into issues and needs to speak to someone.
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Logan Chiang
•Never heard of that service before. Is it legit or just another company trying to make money off desperate people?
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Abigail Spencer
•It's legit - they basically help you get through the phone queue to reach an actual NYS Department of Labor rep. I was skeptical too but it worked when I couldn't get through on my own.
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Isla Fischer
Make sure he understands the job search requirements too. You have to keep a log of your job search activities and be able and available for work. The NYS Department of Labor system will ask about this when he files his weekly claims.
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