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UGH this is so frustrating! I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for WEEKS about my own claim and their phone system is impossible. Every time I call I either get disconnected or sit on hold for hours. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there?
I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). It's a service that calls NYS Department of Labor for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was skeptical at first but I was able to get through in like 20 minutes after weeks of trying myself. Really helped me resolve my adjudication issue.
Just want to add - make sure you understand the difference between being fired for cause vs. being laid off. If your hours are getting cut that badly, they might actually be laying you off rather than firing you, which would definitely make you eligible for benefits. Also remember you have to do your weekly claims and job search requirements even while your initial claim is being reviewed.
The whole system is a nightmare honestly. They make you jump through hoops and then leave you hanging for weeks without any explanation. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for over a month about my claim and still don't have answers.
unemployment and social security are COMPLETELY different!! your employer pays unemployment insurance taxes to the state, not you. social security comes from federal taxes that you and your employer both pay. totally separate systems, totally separate money.
I was confused about this too when I first started getting unemployment. The NYS Department of Labor website actually has a section explaining how the system is funded if you want to read more about it. But yeah, it's all employer taxes going into a state trust fund.
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
Anastasia Fedorov
The phone situation with NYS Department of Labor is absolutely ridiculous!! I've wasted HOURS trying to reach someone about a simple question about my job search log. The automated system is useless and the hold times are insane. There's got to be a better way to handle this.
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StarStrider
For what it's worth, you can also try messaging through your my.ny.gov account, though response times vary. Sometimes they respond within a few days, sometimes it takes 2+ weeks. If your issue is urgent like a missed weekly claim deadline, definitely keep trying the phone.
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GalacticGuru
•Good point about the messaging - I forgot about that option. Will try that too while I keep calling.
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