I've been trying to get through to the NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask questions about my claim and the phone system is impossible! Does anyone know if there's a way to actually talk to a human being there? The automated system just hangs up on me every time.

The unemployment rate is just a number that doesn't reflect how BROKEN the whole system is!! I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor adjudication for 2 months and they keep asking for the same documents over and over. The rate could be 1% and their system would still be a nightmare to deal with.

ugh this system is designed to make you feel like garbage about yourself. the hoops they make you jump through with the job search requirements and all that paperwork... its like they want you to give up and stop claiming benefits. hang in there, youre not alone in feeling this way

I feel you on this one. When I was unemployed I basically had to treat taking care of my mental health like a part time job. Exercise helped a lot even if it was just walking around the block. Also maybe look into whether your area has any free mental health resources or support groups specifically for people who are unemployed.

Did you have any issues during your initial application that might have triggered adjudication? Sometimes even small discrepancies can delay payments while they review your case. Check your account for any messages or requests for additional documentation.

ugh the waiting is the WORST part!! I remember pacing around my apartment checking my bank account every few hours when I was waiting for my first payment. hang in there, it will come through

I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed help with my application. If you run into issues and can't reach anyone by phone, there's a service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Just remember you have to file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed. Don't skip weeks thinking you'll do it later - you can't go back and claim those weeks if you miss them.

same boat here... my workplace is toxic but I'm scared to quit without knowing for sure about benefits

I tried this route when I quit my job at a restaurant because they weren't following safety protocols and I kept getting burned. NYS Department of Labor denied my claim initially but I appealed with photos of my injuries and a statement from the health department about violations at the restaurant. Eventually got approved but it took 4 months total. The appeal process is brutal but sometimes it's worth fighting if you really had good cause to leave.