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this whole system is backwards! why should someone with more education have a harder time getting unemployment help? the computer algorithms probably flag people with advanced degrees as flight risks or something. its all messed up
I had the same confusion when I first applied! UI is just the technical term. When you're on the phone with NYS Department of Labor agents, they'll say UI. When you're talking to friends, you'll probably just say unemployment. Same program, different names. Make sure you file within the first week of being unemployed to avoid any delays.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions about your UI claim, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier than sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.
Wait, I thought unemployment wasn't taxable? That's so unfair, we're already struggling and then they tax us on the help we get??
The system is so messed up. I got denied because they said I didn't do enough job searches even though I applied to like 20 places. They want you to jump through all these hoops and then still find reasons to deny you.
wait I thought if you quit you automatically can't get unemployment? I've been at a terrible job for months because I thought I'd lose benefits
No, that's a common misconception. You can quit and still get benefits if you have 'good cause' - things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, harassment, or other compelling reasons. But you have to be able to prove it and show you tried to resolve the situation first.
Jayden Hill
The system is SO broken honestly. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim and they keep giving me different answers every time I finally get through to someone. Good luck getting anyone on the phone without waiting hours. And don't even get me started on their website crashing all the time when you're trying to file your weekly claim.
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Madeline Blaze
•Yeah the phone system is a nightmare. That's why people are using services like that Claimyr thing to get through. Worth it when you're dealing with claim issues.
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LordCommander
College graduates can sometimes qualify if they worked during school. Check your base period earnings - you might be surprised. Also student loans don't count as income if you're wondering about that.
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