


Ask the community...
The whole system is ridiculous! You lose your job, then you lose your home, and they still expect you to jump through all these hoops for a few hundred dollars a week. Meanwhile they make it impossible to actually talk to someone when you have questions. It's like they WANT people to give up and stop claiming.
make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file - like your last employer's info, your social security number, and dates you worked. the system can be picky about getting exact information
Just want to add that if you're waiting on processing, make sure your job search requirements are up to date. Even during the review period, you need to be documenting your job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor can ask for this information at any time and it could delay your benefits if you're not compliant.
The NYS Department of Labor system is such a mess for anyone who doesn't have a typical 9-5 job. Maritime workers, gig workers, seasonal employees - we all get screwed by their outdated forms that assume everyone works at one location for one employer.
Just went through this myself. Put the vessel name where you worked most recently and the company name as the employer. If NYS Department of Labor needs clarification during adjudication, they'll contact you. Don't overthink it - the important thing is getting your claim filed before you run out of time.
Ivanna St. Pierre
I had no idea they offered training programs! I've been struggling to get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask about this stuff. The phone lines are always busy and when I do get through they just hang up on me. Has anyone found a better way to reach them?
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•That sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point. Did they actually help you connect or is it just another scam?
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Elin Robinson
•No it's legit. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Much better than spending hours on hold just to get disconnected.
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Atticus Domingo
Beyond claims processing, they maintain the state job bank, conduct labor market research, investigate benefit fraud, provide employer services for hiring, and manage federal grant programs for workforce development. They're also responsible for UI tax collection from employers and maintaining employment statistics.
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Beth Ford
•wow that's a lot more than I thought! makes sense why they're always so backed up
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