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The unemployment rate was definitely high but I think it's important to remember that NYS Department of Labor was also dealing with unprecedented claim volumes. My brother works there and said they were completely overwhelmed. The systems weren't designed for that many people filing at once.
I was confused about this too when I had trouble reaching the NYS Department of Labor about my claim status. I kept seeing news about unemployment rates but my experience didn't match what they were reporting. Turns out the measuring and the benefits are completely different systems. If you need to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about claims, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works.
The whole unemployment system is designed to make you give up honestly. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for months over an overpayment notice that makes NO SENSE. They say I didn't report work properly but I have screenshots of every weekly claim I filed. The bureaucracy is insane.
One thing that really helped me address my unemployment issues was understanding that different problems require different approaches. Job search requirement issues? Make sure you're logging everything in their online system. Adjudication delays? Usually means they need more info from you or your former employer. Overpayment notices? You have 30 days to appeal with documentation. The key is figuring out exactly which type of issue you're dealing with first.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! They make it so hard to quit a terrible job because they know employers will just abuse people otherwise. I've seen people stay in horrible situations just because they can't afford to lose their UI eligibility. It's not right.
Astrid Bergström
Be prepared for the job search requirements too! You'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of all your job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor can audit this at any time so keep detailed records.
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Freya Andersen
•Do I need to start job searching immediately or can I wait until my claim is approved?
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Eduardo Silva
•You need to start job searching right away. The work search requirement begins with your first week of filing, not when your claim gets approved.
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PixelPrincess
If you run into issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone (which happens a lot), I had good luck using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get connected to actual agents without waiting on hold forever. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.
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Freya Andersen
•That sounds helpful, I'll check it out if I have trouble reaching them. Thanks for the tip!
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