Where to sign up for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor?

You need to go to labor.ny.gov and look for the unemployment insurance section. You'll create an account on their online system and file your initial claim there. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your most recent pay stub. The whole process is done online now - no need to visit an office unless there's a specific issue with your claim.

File as soon as possible! You can file the week you become unemployed. The NYS Department of Labor recommends filing within the first week because there's a waiting period before benefits start. Go to labor.ny.gov, click on Unemployment Insurance, then File a Claim. You'll need to provide detailed employment information for all jobs in the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation.

been there done that, the website is terrible but you gotta push through it. took me like 2 hours to complete everything because it kept timing out. make sure you save your progress frequently and have all your paperwork ready before you start

I had such a hard time getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my application. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Actually found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to verify some information on my claim.

Just want to add that you'll also need to register for work search activities after you file. The NYS Department of Labor requires you to look for work and document your job search efforts. They'll explain all this after you complete your initial claim but it's good to know upfront.

Just to add some practical tips from someone who recently went through this process - when you're filling out the application on labor.ny.gov, make sure you're on a stable internet connection because the system can be glitchy. Also, write down your confirmation number after you submit and take screenshots of important pages. You'll need to certify for benefits every week after your initial claim, so bookmark the site. The first payment usually takes 2-3 weeks after filing, so try to have some emergency funds if possible. Good luck with your application!