File your weekly claim online through the New York Department of Labor website

New York requires you to file a claim for each week you want to receive unemployment benefits. You do this through the Department of Labor's online system, not by phone or mail. The system is called the Unemployment Insurance Online Services (UIOS), and it opens for filing each Sunday at 12:01 a.m.

You must file your claim between Sunday and Friday of each week. If you file after Friday at midnight, your claim will be held until the following week. The week you are filing for runs Sunday through Saturday, and you report on the week that just ended.

To file, you need your Social Security number, your New York driver's license or ID number, and information about any work you did that week. If you worked, you will need to report your gross earnings (before taxes) for each day you worked.

Key Takeaways

  • File your weekly claim through the Department of Labor website between Sunday and Friday each week; filing after Friday midnight delays your claim to the following week.
  • You must report any work you did and your gross earnings for that week, even if you earned only a few dollars.
  • Your payment is deposited to your debit card or bank account on the same day your claim is processed, usually within one business day of filing.
  • If you miss a week's filing important date, you can file a late claim, but your payment will be delayed until the claim is processed.
  • Failing to file for four consecutive weeks without contacting the Department of Labor will close your claim.

What information you need to file each week

Before you log in, gather the details you will need. Have your Social Security number and your New York driver's license or non-driver ID number ready. If you do not have a New York ID, you can use your passport number or another state's driver's license number.

If you worked during the week you are reporting, write down the name of each employer, the dates you worked, and your gross pay for each day. Gross pay means your earnings before any deductions. Include tips, bonuses, and any other money you earned, even if it was not yet paid to you.

If you received any income other than wages — such as severance pay, vacation pay, sick pay, or self-employment income — report that too. The Department of Labor will reduce your weekly benefit by a portion of what you earned, but you are still may have access to to a partial payment in most cases.

How to log in and file your claim

Go to labor.ny.gov and look for the link to Unemployment Insurance Online Services. You will need to create an account if you have not filed before. Use your email address and create a password that is at least 8 characters long and includes at least one number and one uppercase letter.

Once you are logged in, select "File a Weekly Claim" or "Continued Claim" depending on whether this is your first week or a later week. Answer each question honestly. The system will ask whether you worked, whether you refused any job offers, whether you are available to work, and whether you are in school or training.

Review your answers before you submit. Once you submit, you will see a confirmation number on the screen. Write this down or take a screenshot. You will receive an email confirmation as well, usually within a few minutes.

When your payment arrives and how you receive it

The Department of Labor processes claims the same day you file them, usually within a few hours. Your payment is deposited to the debit card or bank account you registered when you first filed for benefits. Most people receive their money the next business day.

If you set up direct deposit to your bank account, the payment goes there. If you did not set up direct deposit, the state sends you a debit card in the mail. You can use this card to withdraw cash at ATMs or make purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted. There is no fee to use the card at most ATMs, but some ATM operators charge a fee.

Your weekly benefit amount is set when your claim is first approved and does not change week to week unless you report work earnings. The amount is based on your wages during the base period — the first four of the last five calendar quarters before you filed.

What happens if you work during the week

Report all work and earnings, no matter how little you earned. The Department of Labor does not stop your benefits if you work a few hours, but they will reduce your weekly payment based on what you made.

New York allows you to earn up to 20 percent of your weekly benefit amount without any reduction. Anything you earn above that is subtracted dollar-for-dollar from your benefit. For example, if your weekly benefit is $500, you can earn up to $100 without losing any payment. If you earn $150, you lose $50 of your benefit that week.

Report your earnings honestly and completely. The Department of Labor cross-checks your reports against employer records and tax documents. If you underreport earnings, you may be asked to repay benefits, and you could face fraud charges.

What to do if you miss the filing important date

If you miss the Friday midnight important date, you can still file a late claim. Log in to your account and select the option to file a late claim. You will need to explain why you missed the important date. The Department of Labor will review your reason and decide whether to accept the late claim.

Common reasons the Department accepts late claims include illness, a death in the family, a technical problem with the website, or a misunderstanding about the important date. If your reason is accepted, your claim will be processed, but your payment will be delayed until after the review is complete.

If you miss filing for four consecutive weeks without contacting the Department of Labor, your claim will be closed. You will need to file a new claim to restart benefits, and you may lose some of the weeks you did not file for.

Reasons your claim might be held or denied

The Department of Labor may hold your claim for review if you report information that does not match their records or if your employer disputes your claim. Common reasons for a hold include reporting that you were fired, that you quit, or that you are in school or training.

If your claim is held, the Department will contact you by phone or mail to ask questions. Answer honestly and provide any documents they request, such as a letter from your employer or proof of school enrollment. The review usually takes one to two weeks.

Your claim may be denied if you quit your job without good cause, if you were fired for misconduct, or if you are not able and available to work. You have the right to appeal a denial. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the denial letter, and you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file my weekly claim on my phone?

Yes. The Department of Labor's website works on phones and tablets. You can file from anywhere you have internet access. Some people use the website on a computer and some use a phone — both work the same way.

What if I worked for cash and have no pay stub?

Report the amount you earned based on what your employer paid you. If you do not have a pay stub, write down the dates you worked and the amount you were paid each day. The Department of Labor may ask you to provide proof, such as a bank deposit or a statement from your employer, so keep records of your cash payments.

Do I have to file every week, even if I did not work?

Yes. You must file a claim for every week you want to receive a benefit, whether you worked or not. If you do not file, you do not receive a payment for that week, and you cannot go back and file for it later.

What if my employer says I am still employed but I am not working?

Report your actual situation on your weekly claim. If you are not working and not being paid, you are unemployed for that week, even if your employer has not officially laid you off. The Department of Labor will contact your employer to verify your status. Answer truthfully on your claim.

Can I file a claim for a week I already missed?

You can file a late claim for up to two weeks after the important date. After two weeks, you cannot file for that week. If you miss multiple weeks, file a late claim for the most recent week you missed and contact the Department of Labor to explain why you missed the earlier weeks.