


Ask the community...
The unemployment rate in my area just hit 5.1% and honestly the job market is TERRIBLE right now. I've been on unemployment for 6 months and can barely find anything that pays decent. The NYS Department of Labor keeps pushing these job fairs but half the employers there are offering minimum wage with no benefits.
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get clarification on my claim type last year. Spent weeks trying to get through on the phone. Finally used Claimyr.com to connect with an agent - they have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Got through to someone within a day and they explained exactly which category my layoff fell under and how it affected my weekly claim requirements.
Don't overthink it too much! The unemployment office just wants to know you lost your job through no fault of your own. Whether its structural or cyclical or whatever doesn't really change your benefits amount or duration. Just be honest on your weekly claims about looking for work and you'll be fine.
My brother went through this exact thing last year and his employer tried to claim he was fired for attendance issues even though he was clearly laid off with 15 other people when they closed the department. He had to do a phone hearing but won easily because the employer couldn't provide any actual documentation of the supposed attendance problems.
I had such a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I was laid off last year. Spent hours on hold just to ask basic questions about my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to verify my employer information for my claim.
Yeah it did! Check out claimyr.com if you need to talk to NYS Department of Labor directly. Way better than trying to call on your own.
Savannah Weiner
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! They make it impossible to reach anyone and then close early. I've been trying to resolve an overpayment issue for MONTHS and can never get through. These offices should be open evenings and weekends for working people!
0 coins
Levi Parker
•I feel your pain but getting angry won't solve the problem. The system is overwhelmed but there are ways to work with it.
0 coins
Libby Hassan
Just went through this same thing with finding office hours. Most close between 4-5 PM but some locations have weird schedules. The Buffalo office I went to was only open Tuesday-Thursday for walk-ins. Best bet is to call the general number and ask for your local office hours.
0 coins