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If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask more questions about this, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped when I needed clarification on my claim status.
The whole NYS Department of Labor system is a JOKE. They make you jump through hoops for weeks while you're trying to pay bills and survive. Two to three weeks is ridiculous when people need money immediately after losing their job. Other states process claims much faster but NY seems to enjoy making people suffer.
Just want to add that if you had any separation issues like being fired or quitting, that's when it takes longer because they have to do an adjudication review. Also make sure your employer responded to their inquiry - sometimes delays happen because the employer doesn't send back their paperwork to NYS Department of Labor on time.
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.
Lena Schultz
Wait I'm confused - I thought unemployment was like welfare and didn't count as income? This is my first time ever filing for UI and nobody told me about taxes when I applied.
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Demi Hall
•No, unemployment insurance benefits are definitely taxable income. It's not welfare - you earned these benefits through your previous employment and payroll taxes. The confusion is understandable but you'll need to include it on your tax return.
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Gemma Andrews
ugh same boat here, got about $8000 in benefits last year and just found out about the tax thing. Anyone know roughly what percentage I should expect to owe?
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