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The whole unemployment system is so confusing!! Why can't they just make it simple and say exactly how long you need to work instead of all this base period nonsense. I'm in the same boat as you OP and stressing out about whether I'll qualify.
Just to add some specifics - for 2025, the minimum wage requirement in your base period is $2,800 total, and you need wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period. With 18 months of work at $18/hour, you're definitely over both thresholds. File immediately because there's a waiting week and you want to get your claim processed as soon as possible.
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to verify any information or if your claim gets stuck, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Was really helpful when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines and needed to check on my claim status.
OMG the NYS Department of Labor website is THE WORST. I spent like 3 hours trying to figure out the same thing when I got fired. You basically need everything - social security, ID, work history, bank info if you want direct deposit. But honestly the hardest part is just navigating their terrible online system. Make sure you write down all your passwords and stuff because you'll need to log back in every week to certify.
Just to add - when you file for unemployment make sure you have all your employer information ready including exact dates and addresses. NYS Department of Labor will contact your previous employer to verify everything so accuracy is important. Any mistakes can delay your claim approval.
The whole system is designed to make you give up honestly. They ask for so much documentation and then take forever to process anything. But stick with it because the benefits do help while you're looking for work.
Oliver Becker
This is exactly why the unemployment system is so confusing! They use all these technical terms but don't explain what they actually mean. I spent weeks thinking I had to calculate something myself before realizing the system does it automatically. The NYS Department of Labor really needs better instructions on their website.
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CosmicCowboy
•If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to clarify these kinds of questions, I had good luck using claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to an actual agent without waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to verify my partial benefit calculations were correct.
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Natasha Orlova
Just went through this same confusion last month! The weekly certification form is asking for your GROSS earnings, not asking you to calculate any rates. Report exactly what you earned before taxes and the NYS Department of Labor system automatically applies their partial benefit formula. Don't overthink it - just be honest about your earnings and let the system do the work.
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