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When I was trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation, I couldn't reach anyone for weeks. The phone lines are always busy and the online chat never worked. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration since I needed to verify my wages were calculated correctly.
The NYS Department of Labor system is so broken honestly. They make it impossible to qualify and then impossible to get help when you need it. I've been fighting them for months over a stupid technicality.
Wait did you quit or get laid off? You said both in your post. If you quit voluntarily you definitely won't qualify unless it was for good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment.
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.
honestly the whole system is ridiculous. they force you to apply to jobs then penalize you for having standards about what youre willing to do. ive been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and its just one thing after another
Had something similar happen - interview went well but they wanted me to agree to random drug testing even though it was just data entry work. I didn't refuse outright but said I needed to think about it. Never heard back from them and NYS Department of Labor never questioned it on my weekly claims.
Maria Gonzalez
yeah i got fired too and still got unemployment so dont worry about it just file asap
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Natalie Chen
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?
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Sophie Hernandez
•Yes, you absolutely have the right to appeal if you're denied benefits. NYS Department of Labor will give you information about the appeals process if your initial claim is rejected. You can provide additional documentation and testimony to support your case.
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