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I understand the frustration, but the work authorization requirement exists because unemployment benefits are considered a form of public assistance. If you're having trouble reaching local assistance programs, I've heard some people mention using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to help get through to government agencies when phone lines are busy. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works for connecting with agencies.
Just wanted to add that some states have their own worker assistance programs that might have different eligibility requirements than federal unemployment. It might be worth checking if NY has anything like that, though I'm not sure.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST VETERANS! Employers get tax credits for hiring us but they still won't do it. Meanwhile NYS Department of Labor makes us jump through hoops with job searches for positions that don't even exist. It's like they want us to fail so they can cut us off benefits.
Same boat here. What's really frustrating is when you explain your military background and they just stare at you blankly. Like being a logistics coordinator in the Army doesn't translate to supply chain management somehow??
That's exactly the translation problem. Consider revising your resume to use civilian terminology - 'logistics coordinator' instead of your military job title, 'managed supply operations for 200+ personnel' instead of unit-specific language. Many veterans find success once they bridge that communication gap.
The NYS Department of Labor system is a nightmare to deal with but you should still file. Getting through to someone on the phone is nearly impossible when you have questions. I've been calling for weeks trying to resolve an issue with my weekly claim and can't get through.
Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it when I was having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor. They help you get through to an actual agent - there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and the site is claimyr.com. It saved me hours of trying to call myself.
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask about work search requirements, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to unemployment agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck on hold for hours trying to get answers about my job search log, but with their help I actually spoke to someone within 20 minutes.
Brianna Schmidt
same boat here, the 'low unemployment' thing is misleading because it counts part-time jobs and gig work as employed
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Alexis Renard
•Exactly! Plus it doesn't account for people who gave up looking or are underemployed. The statistics don't tell the whole story of what it's actually like out there job hunting.
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Camila Jordan
Don't stress about the unemployment rate affecting your claim. I've been through this before and NYS Department of Labor processes claims based on your individual eligibility, not economic indicators. Just keep filing your weekly claims and documenting your job search activities. The rate being low might actually mean more job postings to apply to for your work search requirement.
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