


Ask the community...
If you're struggling to get through to NYS Department of Labor about employer issues, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach someone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It's mainly for claimants but I used it when I couldn't get answers about a separation dispute and needed to speak with someone urgently. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
The whole system seems designed to favor employees over employers tbh. We document everything now - attendance, performance issues, policy violations. Because when someone files for unemployment after you fire them, you better have good documentation or NYS Department of Labor will side with the employee every time. It's like guilty until proven innocent.
Be prepared for the job search requirements too! You'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of all your job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor can audit this at any time so keep detailed records.
If you run into issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone (which happens a lot), I had good luck using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get connected to actual agents without waiting on hold forever. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They make it so complicated for students when we're the ones who need help the most. I went through this mess last year and it took forever to get approved even though I was clearly available for work around my class schedule. Just be prepared for a lot of paperwork and questions.
You should definitely apply! I'm a part-time student and got approved for partial benefits when my restaurant job cut my shifts. The important thing is being honest about your availability and actively job searching. Keep records of your job applications because they might ask for your job search log.
I was confused about this too when I had trouble reaching the NYS Department of Labor about my claim status. I kept seeing news about unemployment rates but my experience didn't match what they were reporting. Turns out the measuring and the benefits are completely different systems. If you need to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about claims, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works.
Oliver Zimmermann
Processing time varies but usually 2-3 weeks if everything goes smoothly. Sometimes your claim goes into adjudication if they need to verify your employment or separation reason - that can add several more weeks. Make sure you have all your documentation ready when you file to avoid delays.
0 coins
Malik Johnson
I went through this whole process last year when my restaurant closed. Honestly the hardest part was just understanding all the terminology at first - adjudication, monetary determination, waiting week, etc. But once you get into the routine of filing weekly it becomes pretty automatic. Just don't miss filing a week or you'll lose benefits for that period.
0 coins