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It is best to apply for unemployment insurance online during the hours of 7:30am - 7:30pm. 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.

To Apply by Telephone

• Call the Telephone Claim Center at 1-888-209-8124 toll-free

Filing hours are:

• Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 7:30 pm.
• Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 am to 8:00 pm.

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.
• To collect benefits, you must be ready, willing, and able to work, and actively looking for work during each week in which you are claiming benefits.
• Important: When completing your benefits claim, you will be asked whether you are able to work. We understand that many of you are unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and New York State on PAUSE. If you would otherwise be able to work, you should answer 'YES' in order to receive your benefits.
• While applying for unemployment benefits, you will be asked about telework. If your employer has offered you the opportunity to telework your normal hours during the pandemic, you should answer YES. If your employer has NOT offered you the option to telework you should answer NO.
• 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.

• NOTE: Like many New Yorkers, DOL representatives are working from home 
• So your caller ID may show "PRIVATE CALLER.” These calls will likely come from either a 518 or 888 number.
• Anyone calling from DOL will verify their identity by providing:
  • the date you filed your application; and 
  • 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.