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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Just wanted to share some encouragement as someone who literally JUST got through this exact situation! Filed 4/5 and spent 6 weeks in $0 determination purgatory checking this thread daily for hope 😅 Finally used claimyr last Monday after everyone here convinced me it was worth it, and wow - got connected in 30 minutes vs the hundreds of failed attempts calling directly. The agent confirmed what everyone's been saying - it's just wage verification holding things up, totally normal! She expedited my case and by Friday my benefits updated to $425/week with all back pay from April. Already got my first deposit today! For anyone still waiting: this thread saved my sanity during those stressful weeks, and I promise the system does work eventually. Keep certifying weekly, use claimyr if you've been waiting over a month, and don't lose hope! You'll get through this 💪✨
OMG @Leeann Blackstein THANK YOU for this update!! 🎉 I ve'been obsessively checking this thread for weeks and your success story just gave me the boost I needed! Filed 4/18 so I m'right around your timeline and got that scary $0 letter that made me think I screwed something up. But seeing that you got $425/week plus all the back pay and already got your first deposit is SO encouraging! I ve'been on the fence about trying claimyr but hearing you got connected in 30 minutes vs hundreds of failed calls definitely convinced me. This waiting period has been absolutely brutal with bills piling up, but knowing there s'actually light at the end of the tunnel makes it bearable. Thanks for taking the time to come back and share your good news - this community has been such a lifeline! 🙏✨
This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm brand new to unemployment (just got laid off last week) and was dreading having to navigate this whole system, but reading through everyone's detailed timelines and advice has made me feel so much more prepared. It's really reassuring to know that the $0 determination letter is normal and just means they're doing wage verification, not that I messed up my application somehow. The claimyr.com recommendation seems to be a game-changer based on literally everyone's success stories - definitely bookmarking that for when I need it. I love how supportive this community is, people coming back to share their good news and encourage others who are still waiting. Filing my claim tomorrow and already feeling way less anxious thanks to all the knowledge shared here! 💙
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The Rochester One-Stop Career Center on East Main Street is usually your best bet for in-person help. They're typically open 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM weekdays, but like others mentioned, definitely call first. I had success there a few months ago by arriving right when they opened and specifically asking to speak with someone about "unemployment claim issues" rather than just general questions. The staff there seemed to have more access to the system than I expected. Also, if you can't get through to them by phone, try using the online chat feature on the NYS DOL website during off-peak hours (like early morning or late afternoon) - sometimes that's faster than calling.
@Isabella Costa Thanks for the specific location info! That s'exactly what I was looking for. The Rochester One-Stop on East Main Street - I ll'definitely try getting there right at 8:30 AM opening time. Good tip about the online chat feature too, I hadn t'thought to try that during off-peak hours. Have you found the chat agents can actually help with claim status issues, or do they mainly just provide general information? I m'hoping to avoid another runaround where they just tell me to call the same busy phone number.
I'm having a similar issue with my unemployment claim getting flagged every week and can't get through to anyone on the phone. Reading through these comments, it sounds like the Rochester One-Stop on East Main Street might be worth trying. Has anyone had luck recently getting actual help there rather than just being told to call the phone line? I'm willing to take time off work to go in person if they can actually access my claim and help resolve whatever is causing these flags. The weekly certification process has become such a nightmare when you can't reach anyone to explain what's wrong.
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I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 24 weeks in and getting really anxious about what happens next. One thing I found that might help is checking if you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade or outsourcing. It can extend benefits and provide retraining funds. Also, some people don't know about the Work Sharing Program - if you find part-time work, you might still be able to collect partial benefits. Definitely worth looking into! Stay strong, we're all in this together 💪
This is super helpful info! I had no idea about the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. How do you find out if your job loss qualifies for TAA? Is there a specific application process or do you just call the unemployment office?
I'm in a similar situation - just hit week 22 and starting to panic. One thing that's helped me is connecting with my local One-Stop Career Center. They have job search workshops and sometimes know about programs that aren't widely advertised. Also, if you're over 50, check out the SCSEP program (Senior Community Service Employment Program) - it provides training and work experience while you job hunt. Don't give up! I know it's scary but there are more resources out there than we realize. Keep documenting all your job search activities too - you never know when that info might be useful for additional programs.
Thanks for mentioning the One-Stop Career Centers! I didn't know about those. Quick question - do you know if the SCSEP program has income limits or other requirements besides age? I'm 52 and this sounds like it could be exactly what I need right now. Also really appreciate the tip about documenting job search activities - I've been keeping track but wasn't sure why it mattered. Good to know it might come in handy later!
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This is such a helpful thread! I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now - just got approved for NY unemployment again after working for about 10 months. I still have my KeyBank card from 2023 and it doesn't expire until 2026, but I was worried they might automatically send a new one anyway. Reading everyone's experiences here has been super reassuring. I'm definitely going to call that KeyBank number (1-866-295-2955) that @Lara Woods and @Edison Estevez mentioned to check if my card is still active before my first payment comes through. Better to know now than wait and wonder! Also going to double-check my address info in both systems since I moved last year. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - way more helpful than trying to navigate the official websites!
You're so smart to check everything ahead of time! I wish I had found this thread when I was going through the same thing. That KeyBank number is a lifesaver - their automated system will tell you right away if your card is active and what the balance is. Since your card is from 2023 and doesn't expire until 2026, you should definitely be good to go. The address thing is really important too - I learned that the hard way when my payments got delayed because my info didn't match between the two systems. Hope everything goes smoothly for you!
This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in the exact same situation - just reapplied after working for about 7 months and couldn't remember if I selected direct deposit or the debit card option. My KeyBank card is from early 2024 and doesn't expire until 2027, so based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like they should reuse it. I'm definitely going to call that KeyBank number (1-866-295-2955) that several people mentioned to verify it's still active before my first payment. It's so much better getting real advice from people who've actually been through this rather than trying to decipher the official government websites! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this has saved me a lot of anxiety and phone calls to unemployment.
Totally agree - this thread is gold! I'm actually in a very similar boat, just got approved after being back at work for about 8 months. My KeyBank card is also from 2024 and expires in 2027, so sounds like I should be all set. That phone number tip is brilliant - definitely calling tomorrow to check my card status before stressing about it. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you hear from people who've actually navigated this system recently. Way better than spending hours on hold trying to reach an actual person at unemployment! Thanks everyone for being so helpful to newcomers like us.
Mohammad Khaled
I just wanted to add my recent experience to this thread since I was in almost exactly the same situation! I was getting $325/week unemployment and really stressed about groceries on top of my $875 rent. Applied for SNAP through myBenefits about 5 weeks ago and got approved for $188/month - honestly it's been such a relief. The application process was way less scary than I thought it would be. Had my unemployment determination letter ready like everyone suggested, plus a copy of my lease for housing costs. The whole thing took maybe 40 minutes online and I got my EBT card about 19 days later. One thing I learned is that you can actually call the SNAP office to check on your application status if you're worried - the number is right in your myBenefits account after you submit. Also, they automatically enrolled me in some additional food programs I didn't even know about. Definitely recommend applying if you're on the fence - the income limits are really designed to help people in situations exactly like this!
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Oliver Zimmermann
•@Mohammad Khaled This is so encouraging to hear! I m'in pretty much the exact same situation - getting around $320/week unemployment and really struggling with grocery costs. Your experience gives me a lot of confidence to actually go through with applying. I love that you mentioned they automatically enrolled you in additional food programs - I had no idea that was even a thing! Did they tell you what those other programs were or did you find out when you got your card? Also, the tip about being able to call to check application status is really helpful - I m'definitely the type to worry and wonder what s'happening behind the scenes. Thanks for sharing your timeline too - knowing it took about 19 days from application to getting the card helps me set realistic expectations. I m'going to start gathering my documents this weekend and apply early next week!
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Noah Lee
I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! Just started collecting unemployment ($285/week) about three weeks ago and have been really worried about affording groceries. Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring - I had no idea you could even qualify for SNAP while getting unemployment benefits. The fact that so many people with similar weekly amounts are getting approved for $180-200+ monthly in food benefits would honestly be life-changing for my budget. My rent is $920/month so every dollar counts right now. I'm definitely going to apply through myBenefits this week after seeing all these success stories. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you upload the unemployment determination letter, does it need to be the original PDF from NYS DOL or would a clear photo/screenshot work? Also wondering if anyone knows roughly how long the benefits last before you need to recertify? Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed real-world experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical info you can't find on government websites!
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•@Noah Lee I went through the SNAP application process a few months ago while on unemployment and can answer your questions! For the determination letter, a clear screenshot or photo worked fine for me - you don t'need the original PDF as long as all the important info your (weekly benefit amount, effective dates is) clearly visible. They just need to verify your income amount. As for recertification, SNAP benefits typically need to be renewed every 6-12 months depending on your situation. They ll'send you a renewal notice before your benefits expire, and you ll'need to update them on any income changes like (if your unemployment runs out or you find work .)With your weekly amount of $285, you should definitely qualify - that s'even lower than many of the success stories shared here. The application really is worth it, especially with rent taking up such a big chunk of your budget. Good luck with your application!
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