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If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about federal unemployment tax questions, I found this service called Claimyr that helps people reach government agencies by phone. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it to get through to the IRS when I had payroll tax questions and it saved me hours of being on hold.
Ugh the whole system is so frustrating! I got fired from my retail job for 'poor performance' which was basically just not selling enough store credit cards, and NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after 4 weeks of back and forth. Employers always try to fight it but most of the time they don't have enough evidence to prove actual misconduct.
Being late due to childcare might actually be considered good cause depending on your specific situation. If you didn't have reasonable alternatives for childcare and your employer wasn't accommodating, that could strengthen an appeal. Make sure you have documentation about your childcare situation and any communication with your employer about the attendance issues.
I do have some emails where I asked my supervisor about flexible start times because of daycare dropoff. She said no but didn't offer any alternatives. Would that help with an appeal?
You can also try submitting a FOIL request (Freedom of Information Law) for your records if the normal channels don't work. It takes longer but they have to respond within a certain timeframe.
Isabella Santos
Don't forget you'll have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits! A lot of people get surprised by that at tax time. You can have them withhold 10% federal taxes when you certify your weekly claims.
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Oliver Schulz
•Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. So if I get $215 a week and don't withhold taxes, I'll owe money next year?
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Yes, unemployment benefits are considered taxable income. You'll get a 1099-G form from NYS Department of Labor at the end of the year showing how much you received. It's usually better to have them withhold the taxes so you don't get hit with a big bill later.
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Ravi Gupta
lol the amount they give you is a joke anyway. try living on $200 a week in this economy, its impossible
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