Which NYS Department of Labor form to file for unemployment benefits - confused about options
I just got laid off from my retail job last week and I'm trying to figure out which unemployment form I need to file with NYS Department of Labor. When I go to the my.ny.gov website there's different options and I'm getting confused about which one applies to me. I worked full time for 18 months at the same company. Do I file a regular UI claim or is there something else I should be doing? I've never done this before and don't want to mess it up.
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Noah huntAce420
For your situation, you'll want to file a regular unemployment insurance (UI) claim through the NYS Department of Labor website. Since you worked full-time for 18 months, you should definitely qualify for regular benefits. Go to my.ny.gov and look for the 'Apply for Unemployment Benefits' option. Make sure you have your employment history, Social Security card, and bank info ready before you start the application.
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Dananyl Lear
•Thank you! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after being laid off or should I apply right away?
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Ana Rusula
Apply immediately! Don't wait. Your benefit year starts the week you file your claim, not when you were laid off. The longer you wait, the more money you're potentially losing. I made that mistake when I first filed and lost out on a week of benefits.
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Fidel Carson
•This is so true! I waited almost two weeks thinking I needed to 'settle in' first and regretted it big time.
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Isaiah Sanders
just go to the website and click apply for unemployment its not rocket science lol. they walk you through everything step by step
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Dananyl Lear
One more question - do I need any specific documentation from my employer or just my own records?
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Noah huntAce420
•You don't technically need anything from your employer to file, but having your last pay stub and any separation paperwork they gave you can be helpful. NYS Department of Labor will verify your wages directly with employers, so your own records of where you worked and when is usually sufficient.
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Xan Dae
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my application. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier when I could actually talk to someone about my specific situation.
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Fiona Gallagher
•How much does that cost though? I'm already strapped for cash being unemployed...
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Xan Dae
•I get being tight on money, but honestly it was worth it to avoid the stress of calling dozens of times and never getting through. Plus they got me connected the same day I used them.
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Thais Soares
Good luck with NYS Department of Labor! The system is so frustrating but once you get your claim going it gets easier. Just make sure you do your weekly claims every week or you'll have problems later.
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