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The unemployment system is so confusing! I've been trying to figure out if I qualify too after getting let go. It seems like they really scrutinize everything when you get fired versus laid off. What if your employer lies about why they fired you? Can you appeal their decision?
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DENY PEOPLE! They probably just rubber stamped whatever your employer said without investigating. I've seen this happen so many times - they side with employers automatically even when they're lying about the reason for termination.
Had this exact issue last year and couldn't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to clarify the tax situation. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach a real person who explained the whole tax withholding process. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Wish I had known about the tax implications before I started collecting benefits.
Pro tip: if you're filing taxes yourself, make sure you're using the correct amount from Box 1 of your 1099-G, not Box 2. Box 1 is the total unemployment compensation paid, Box 2 is federal income tax withheld (which will be zero if you didn't elect withholding). Also double-check that the 1099-G includes all your benefit weeks - sometimes there are processing delays that can affect the reported amounts.
This whole system is so bureaucratic! Why can't they just make it simple instead of having federal AND state involvement? No wonder people get confused about who to contact when there's problems.
Jamal Brown
just apply man, dont overthink it. worst case they say no but at least youll know. the requirements arent that hard if you worked a real job for several months
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Mei Zhang
Good luck with your application! The restaurant industry layoffs are tough but unemployment benefits should help bridge the gap while you find something new. Make sure to certify for your weekly benefits every week once you're approved - missing a week can cause payment delays.
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Ethan Wilson
•thanks everyone for all the help! feeling more confident about applying now. this community is awesome
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