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If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your claim status or ask questions, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get connected to an actual agent instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration when my claim was stuck in adjudication.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your benefit calculation, I had success using claimyr.com. It's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals when I needed to verify my wage information.
Just to add - your benefit amount is based on your base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they look at wages from January 2024 through September 2024. The calculation is the same regardless of current economic conditions.
The whole system is designed to give you as little as possible anyway. Even if you qualify for the maximum $504, that's barely enough to survive in NY with rent and everything else. And they make you jump through hoops with job searches and all that bureaucratic nonsense just to get what you're entitled to.
Just as a heads up, your benefit amount stays the same for the entire benefit year once it's determined, even if you get a part-time job during that time. But if you work part-time while collecting, they'll reduce your weekly payment based on how much you earn. The good news is you can still collect partial benefits as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50.
I had the same problem with the website timing out constantly. What finally worked for me was using the library computers - their internet is way more stable than my home WiFi. But if you absolutely need to file by phone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent. They have this video demo that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of being on hold and getting disconnected.
Never heard of that service before, is it legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.
Filing by phone is such a pain but sometimes necessary. One tip - have a backup plan ready because the system goes down for maintenance pretty regularly. Also write down any confirmation numbers they give you immediately because they talk fast and if you miss it, good luck getting back through to ask again.
Laura Lopez
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check on my claim status after filing. Kept getting busy signals and hung up on. Eventually found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.
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Santiago Diaz
•That's good to know for later if I run into issues. Hopefully the online filing goes smoothly for now.
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Victoria Brown
Just to add - make sure you have your last employer's exact business name and address when you file. NYS Department of Labor is really picky about that stuff and if you get it wrong it can delay your claim processing.
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