NY State announces it will backdate unemployment claims

We have been hearing from many members about the difficulties you are having filing your unemployment claims due to the New York State Department of Labor's website and phone lines being overwhelmed. We have been monitoring this issue and want to inform you all that it has been announced that 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. 

This problem posed the question whether workers who haven’t been able to file because of these technical difficulties will be penalized. Normally, if you wait to file an unemployment claim, you’re not eligible to collect benefits for the period before you filed. The Department of Labor has announced that that rule has been waived in this case because the delays in filing are being caused by the volume of claims, not any lapse on the part of the claimants.

Please see the attached link to the DOL website: 
https://labor.ny.gov/ui/how_to_file_claim.shtm

If you have any questions, please contact us at (212) 245-8100.