Get Unemployment Assistance

Unemployment Insurance is temporary income for eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. File your claim the first week that you lose your job.

If you are filing a new unemployment insurance claim, the day you should apply is based on the first letter of your last name.

• A - F file on Monday
• G - N file on Tuesday
• O - Z file on Wednesday

If you missed your day:

• File Thursday - Sunday
• Any claim you file will be backdated to the date you became unemployed.
• If you are eligible, you will be paid for all benefits from that date forward.

What You Need to Know About Filing for Unemployment Insurance Benefits During the Pandemic:

• New York State is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines. If you’ve seen the term ‘waiting week’ on your payment history, it is a relic of our existing system and does NOT impact your benefits.
• On March 27, 2020, a law was signed that provides additional Unemployment Insurance assistance to workers impacted by COVID-19. This means that you may qualify to receive:Up to 39 weeks of UI benefits.
• An additional $600/week until 7/31/2020.
• (The $600 would be paid the first week of your unemployment claim period but no earlier than 4/5/20).

If you are not traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits (self-employed, independent contractors, farmers, workers with limited work history, and others) and are unable to work as a direct result of the coronavirus public health emergency, you may now be eligible through Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

Learn more about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

If you apply for unemployment insurance, you will be asked if you want to receive your benefits by direct deposit or debit card.

If you apply over the phone, you will automatically receive your benefits via debit card unless you had a previous claim and you received them by direct deposit.

After you apply for unemployment insurance benefits, this is what you can expect: 

• Any claim you file will be backdated to the date you became unemployed. If you are eligible, you will be paid for all benefits due.
• If you are eligible, your first payment will generally be made in two to three weeks from the time your claim is completed and processed. In some cases, we must get additional information before payment can be made and your first payment may take longer. We use this time to review and process your application for benefits. You will not receive benefits during this period. This is why you may see your claim status as “pending.”
• You should respond to any questionnaires, messages, or phone calls from us as quickly as possible. Failure to do so will delay your claim or result in the denial or suspension of your benefits. PLEASE NOTE: Like many New Yorkers, DOL representatives are working from home, so your caller ID may show "PRIVATE CALLER.” Anyone calling from DOL will verify their identity by providing: (a) the date you filed your application; & (b) the type of claim. Once you have been verified, a representative may ask for your social security number.
• If you received benefits on a prior claim by using a debit card and you no longer have the card, or if your card has expired, you must call KeyBank at 1-866-295-2955 to get a new card.
• If you filed a prior claim and you received benefits on that prior claim by direct deposit, any benefits due to you on this claim will go to the bank account we have on file. If your bank account has changed, please immediately update your banking information by using our website. 
• To find out when your most recent payment was released or to see a history of all payments made on your claim, sign in to your account.
• After you complete your application for a new claim for benefits, you will receive a Monetary Determination in the mail informing you of your weekly benefit rate, the base period used to establish your claim, and the employers and wages used to calculate your weekly benefit rate.  
• If the wages are wrong, or if any employers are missing, fill out and send to us the Request for Reconsideration form.
• To speed our review of your claim, be sure to submit proof of your employment and wages. If you have no pay stubs, please send any documents you may have that can be used as proof. 
• You should certify for benefits for each week you remain unemployed, as soon as you receive notification from the DOL to do so. Learn how to certify each week.