Who do I call to file for unemployment benefits in New York?
Lost my job yesterday and need to file for unemployment but I'm confused about the process. Do I need to call someone or can I do this online? I keep seeing different phone numbers and I don't want to waste time calling the wrong place. Has anyone recently filed and can tell me the best way to get started with NYS Department of Labor?
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Javier Hernandez
You don't need to call anyone to file your initial claim. Go to labor.ny.gov and click on 'File a Claim for Unemployment Insurance Benefits'. The online system is much faster than trying to get through on the phone. You'll need your 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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Natasha Petrova
•Thanks! Should I wait a few days or file right away? My last day was yesterday.
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Javier Hernandez
•File as soon as possible. Your claim starts from the date you file, not your last day of work. There's a one-week waiting period anyway so don't delay.
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Emma Davis
The online filing is pretty straightforward but make sure you have all your info ready before you start. I made the mistake of starting without my previous employer's exact address and had to start over. Also write down your confirmation number when you finish!
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LunarLegend
If you absolutely need to speak to someone at NYS Department of Labor, the main number is 888-209-8124 but good luck getting through. I've been trying for weeks to resolve an issue with my claim.
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Malik Jackson
•I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone until someone told me about claimyr.com. It's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. Saved me hours of redial attempts.
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LunarLegend
•Interesting, never heard of that. Does it actually work or is it some kind of scam?
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Malik Jackson
•It's legit. They basically use technology to get through the phone queue for you and then connect you when a real person answers. Way better than sitting there hitting redial all day.
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Isabella Oliveira
whatever you do dont call the regular customer service line its useless. they always say they're experiencing high call volume and hang up on you
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Ravi Patel
Filing online was easy for me but then my claim got stuck in adjudication for 3 weeks. Apparently they needed to verify my employment even though I uploaded all my documents. The whole system is a mess honestly.
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Natasha Petrova
•What's adjudication? Is that something I should expect?
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Javier Hernandez
•Adjudication happens when they need to verify information about your claim - like if you were fired vs laid off, or if there are questions about your work history. Not everyone goes through it but if you do, it can add several weeks to the process.
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Isabel Vega
Just went through this process last month and wanted to add that you should also gather your pay stubs from the last few weeks if you have them. While not always required, they can help speed up the process if there are any questions about your earnings. Also, if you were laid off due to company downsizing or closure, make sure you have any documentation about that - it can help avoid delays since it clearly shows the separation wasn't due to misconduct.
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Gianna Scott
•This is really helpful advice! I was wondering about the pay stub thing. Do you know if they need physical copies or can I just take photos of them? Also, when you say documentation about the layoff, what exactly counts? I got an email from HR about the position elimination but that's about it.
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