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I went through something similar when my hours got cut to almost nothing after wage increases. Even if it's not a full layoff, significant hour reductions can qualify you for partial unemployment benefits. Make sure you're reporting any hours you do work when you file your weekly claims.
ugh the NYS Department of Labor system is such a pain though. took me forever to get through when i applied last year and then they put my claim in adjudication for no reason
If you run into issues reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor by phone, I used claimyr.com last time I needed to talk to an agent. They have this system that calls you back when they get through instead of you sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration.
One thing to keep in mind - you'll need to certify for benefits every week and meet the job search requirements. That means applying to at least 3 jobs per week and keeping a log of your search activities. The NYS Department of Labor takes this seriously so make sure you're actually looking for work, not just going through the motions.
I got unemployment last year and it was fine until they randomly decided I was overpaid and wanted $2,000 back! Turns out I had reported everything correctly but there was some computer glitch. Took months to sort out. So yeah it can be 'easy' to get benefits but be prepared for random problems that make no sense.
I had a similar situation last year where I was spending more on job searching than I expected. What helped me was using claimyr.com to get through to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent when I had questions about my job search requirements. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. The agent was able to clarify exactly what they needed in my job search log and gave me some tips about local resources I didn't know about. Much easier than trying to call the regular number and getting hung up on.
How much does claimyr cost though? If money's already tight...
The whole system is set up to make us fail! They expect us to spend money we don't have on job searching while giving us barely enough to survive. And then they wonder why people can't find work fast enough. The decrease in prices they promised never happened - everything just keeps getting more expensive while benefits stay the same.
Nia Wilson
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! They make you jump through hoops just to find out what you're entitled to. I've been waiting 2 WEEKS just to get my monetary determination and when I call they say my claim is under review. Under review for WHAT?? This is exactly why people lose faith in government programs.
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Mateo Sanchez
•I feel you, the wait times are brutal right now
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Sean Flanagan
also remember you gotta do the weekly claims to actually get paid even after your rate is determined. dont forget about that part or you'll miss payments
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