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The phone situation with NYS Department of Labor is absolutely ridiculous!! I've wasted HOURS trying to reach someone about a simple question about my job search log. The automated system is useless and the hold times are insane. There's got to be a better way to handle this.
For what it's worth, you can also try messaging through your my.ny.gov account, though response times vary. Sometimes they respond within a few days, sometimes it takes 2+ weeks. If your issue is urgent like a missed weekly claim deadline, definitely keep trying the phone.
The NYS Department of Labor system has gotten SO much better since the pandemic mess. Back then it was a nightmare but now the online portal is actually user-friendly. My only advice is don't wait - file as soon as possible because there's a waiting week before benefits start anyway. And definitely start documenting your job search activities right away even if you haven't been approved yet.
Just be really careful about answering the questions accurately, especially about why you're unemployed. If you put anything that suggests you quit or were fired for misconduct, it can delay or deny your claim. Since you said you were laid off, you should be fine, but double-check that your employer coded it correctly as a layoff and not a termination.
Same boat as you last month. The NYS Department of Labor website can be overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial filing it gets easier. Make sure you have your employer's information handy including their unemployment insurance account number if you can find it on your pay stubs. Also be prepared to answer questions about why you lost your job - be honest because they'll verify everything with your employer anyway.
Most disqualifications I see are for attendance issues or policy violations that employers report as misconduct. Not meeting sales quotas typically wouldn't qualify as misconduct unless there's evidence you weren't trying or were deliberately sabotaging sales. Make sure to request a copy of what your employer submitted to NYS Department of Labor - you're entitled to see their side of the story.
Amara Eze
Don't forget you also need to maintain your job search requirements for both NYS Department of Labor benefits AND STEM OPT. The job search for STEM OPT has to be in your field of study, which might be more restrictive than the general NYS Department of Labor job search requirements.
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Giovanni Ricci
ugh the whole system is so complicated especially for international students. good luck figuring it all out OP
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