Legal Aid Society of New York

How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance

Click here to file a new claim for unemployment benefits. Then click on "I Agree" at the bottom of the next page and fill out the form with your information.

To receive benefits, you must:

1. Have a certain amount of earnings over the last year and a half.
2. Be ready and available for work.
3. Be currently unemployed or partially employed.
4. Have NOT lost your most recent job by quitting or being fired.
5. Be actively seeking work.

You will need:

1. Your Social Security number
2. Valid New York State Drivers License or Motor Vehicle ID Card number (if you have one).
3. Phone number where you can be reached for more information
4. Complete name, address, zip code, and phone number of all employers for whom you have worked within the past 18 months.
5. Alien Registration card number (if you are not a U.S. Citizen)

Apply for unemployment benefits by phone by calling: 1-888-209-8124 (English and espanol).

Claim or certify weekly benefits NOW.

To claim your unemployment benefits, you must certify your claim each week by clicking above or by calling 1-212-352-2631.

You will need your Social Security number.

Find out when your most recent check was mailed or see a history of all payments made on your claim.

You will need the PIN number you created when you filed your claim and your Social Security number.