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most construction companies are legit about this stuff, especially if they're doing commercial work. they have to be compliant or they can't get bonded for big jobs
You can also check online through the NYS Department of Labor website - they have an employer lookup tool where you can search by business name to see if they're registered for unemployment insurance. It's usually faster than calling and you get immediate confirmation. Just go to labor.ny.gov and look for the employer services section. If your employer shows up in their database, you're good to go for filing a claim if needed.
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Lost my job in late September and I'm just now getting around to filing - it's been about 4 months. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I kept putting it off because I was embarrassed about needing assistance and convinced myself I'd find something quickly. The job market has been tougher than expected though. It's really encouraging to see so many people who waited similar amounts of time and still got approved without issues. I'm definitely motivated to get my application started this week after seeing all the positive outcomes. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - it's made such a difference in my confidence about moving forward with this process!
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! It's really comforting to know there are so many of us who went through the same experience of waiting months to file. I was also feeling embarrassed about needing assistance and kept thinking the job market would turn around quickly. Four months feels like a long time when you're living it, but seeing everyone's success stories here shows that NYS really doesn't penalize people for the timing. The fact that people waited 4-5 months and still got approved smoothly is such a relief. We shouldn't feel bad about hoping we'd bounce back quickly - that's just being optimistic! The important thing is we're taking action now. I'm planning to file this week too, so we'll be going through this process around the same time. Best of luck with your application!
I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been unemployed for about 2.5 months after getting laid off in November and have been anxious about whether I waited too long to file. Reading everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring - it sounds like NYS really doesn't penalize you for not filing immediately. I kept putting it off because I was sure I'd find something within a few weeks, then the holidays hit, and before I knew it months had passed. The guilt has been eating at me, but seeing so many people in similar situations who successfully filed after 3-5 months is giving me the push I needed. I'm going to gather my employment documents this weekend and file first thing Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - sometimes you just need to hear from real people who've been through the same struggle to realize you're not alone and it's going to be okay!
I completely understand that guilt you're feeling! I went through the exact same thing - lost my job in early fall and kept telling myself "just one more week" before filing. The holidays definitely make everything feel more complicated too. What really helped me was realizing that there's no "perfect" time to file and that the system is designed to help people exactly like us who lost jobs through no fault of our own. The fact that you're taking action now is what matters most. Monday morning sounds like a great plan - I found that filing early in the week helped me avoid some of the website traffic issues others mentioned. You've got this, and you're definitely not alone in feeling anxious about the timing. The relief you'll feel once you get the process started is so worth it!
THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! I've been waiting 8 weeks and they keep saying my claim is under review. Meanwhile I can't pay my bills and they won't tell me what the holdup is. This is ridiculous.
I just went through this process a few months ago when my company downsized. The 2-3 week timeframe mentioned by Yara is pretty accurate for most cases. Since you were part of a mass layoff, that actually works in your favor - the Department of Labor processes these faster because they can verify multiple claims from the same employer at once. One thing that helped me was checking my claim status regularly on the my.ny.gov portal and making sure I certified for benefits every week even before approval. Also, keep all your paperwork handy in case they need additional documentation. Hang in there - the waiting is the hardest part but it will come through!
That's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it! I didn't know that mass layoffs get processed faster - that makes sense though. I've been checking the portal obsessively but will make sure to keep up with the weekly certifications. Thanks for the encouragement, the waiting really is nerve-wracking when you're worried about bills.
Just want to say hang in there - I know the waiting is stressful. My first claim took about 12 days and then payments started coming weekly after that. Make sure you're doing your job search requirements too because they'll ask for that documentation later.
I'm in a similar situation - just filed my claim this week after being laid off. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful but also nerve-wracking! Does anyone know if there's a way to check if your claim is progressing normally or if it's gone into adjudication? I keep logging into my.ny.gov but it just shows "claim filed" status. Also wondering if anyone has tips for the weekly certification process - want to make sure I don't mess anything up that could delay payments further.
Hey Brady, I'm in the exact same boat - just filed this week too! From what I'm seeing here, it sounds like the "claim filed" status is normal for the first week or so. @Effie Alexander mentioned that you should start filing weekly claims right away even before getting the monetary determination, which is good to know. I m'also worried about messing up the weekly certification - maybe we can help each other stay on track with the requirements? The waiting is definitely stressful when you ve'got bills to pay!
Teresa Boyd
I'm going through this same process right now and this thread is incredibly helpful! One thing I want to add - if you worked multiple jobs before becoming unemployed, make sure you list ALL of them in the employment history section, not just your most recent one. I almost missed including a part-time job I had alongside my main job, but it turns out that can affect your benefit calculation. Also, when they ask about any severance pay or vacation payout, be completely accurate about the amounts and dates - they'll verify this with your employer anyway, and any discrepancies will just slow things down. The whole system seems intimidating at first but reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel much more confident about filling it out correctly. Thanks to everyone who shared their tips!
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Harper Thompson
•This is such a great point about listing ALL jobs! I hadn't thought about how a part-time side job could impact benefit calculations. I actually have a similar situation - I had a main job plus some freelance work on weekends. Now I'm wondering if I need to report that freelance income too, even though it was irregular. Did you find any guidance on how to handle inconsistent side income like that? Also, your point about severance pay accuracy is spot on - I'd rather over-document everything than risk delays later. Thanks for adding to this already super helpful thread!
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Butch Sledgehammer
I'm currently in the middle of filling out my NYS DOL application and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I was getting so overwhelmed by all the different questions and terminology. A few things I've learned from my research that might help others: First, the NYS DOL website has a "Filing Your Claim" guide that breaks down each section step by step - it's buried in their resources but super helpful. Second, if you're confused about work search requirements, you can actually create your NY.gov account and register with the job services before filing your claim, which counts toward your weekly requirements later. Finally, I discovered that if you were a union member, your union rep can sometimes help clarify what separation reason was officially reported. The amount of conflicting information out there is crazy, so having this community discussion with real experiences is incredibly valuable. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories and tips!
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