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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.
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.
Wait I'm confused - I thought if you quit you automatically can't get unemployment no matter what? My friend quit her job because her boss was harassing her and she said she couldn't get benefits. Maybe the rules changed?
Document EVERYTHING before you make any moves. Dates, times, what was said, who was there. Take photos if there are safety issues. NYS Department of Labor will want concrete evidence, not just your word against theirs. And honestly, start job hunting now while you're still employed - it's always easier to find work when you already have work.
THE SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING THO! Like why don't they explain this stuff better?? I spent weeks thinking I was gonna get arrested or something for filing while working. NYS Department of Labor website makes it sound like you can ONLY file if you're completely unemployed but that's not true at all!
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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