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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
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.
ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get approved and every time I call they just say 'it's still processing' like that helps pay my bills!! Good luck OP but prepare yourself for a lot of frustration
Also remember you have to do job search activities once you start claiming - 3 job contacts per week that you have to log. Keep records of everything because they can audit you anytime.
Wait what kind of job search stuff? Do I have to apply to 3 jobs every single week even if I'm trying to get my old job back?
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been waiting 2 MONTHS and nobody at NYS Department of Labor can give me a straight answer about what's happening with my claim. They make you jump through hoops and then just leave you hanging with no income.
Keep documentation of everything - your filing dates, weekly claim confirmations, any correspondence. If there are issues later you'll need proof you followed all the requirements. Also double-check that you're meeting the job search requirements during this waiting period.
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone when I needed to check on my benefit amount calculation. Kept getting busy signals and when I did get through, I'd get disconnected. Someone on here mentioned claimyr.com which helped me actually reach an agent to verify my weekly benefit rate. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered about the payment calculation.
Carmen Ortiz
just filed last week and mine went through pretty quick, maybe depends on your employer? idk about unemployment rates but my friend in rochester said his took forever
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Aisha Rahman
To directly answer your question - according to recent NYS Department of Labor data, some Adirondack and Southern Tier counties typically show higher unemployment rates, often in the 6-8% range compared to 3-4% in metro areas. But for your claim processing, focus on making sure you're filing your weekly claims on time and have all your employment documentation ready in case they request it during adjudication.
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Andre Rousseau
•This is really helpful context, thank you. I'm in the Southern Tier so that explains some of what I'm seeing locally.
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