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Wait I'm confused... I thought if you retire you get a pension or 401k? Why would you need unemployment? Isn't that like double dipping?
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor for historical data or any current claim issues, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be helpful if you need to verify specific data points directly with someone at the department.
The unemployment system was SO much different pre-pandemic. Like, people actually complained when their weekly claims took more than a few days to process. Now everyone's used to waiting weeks for adjudication. Those 2017 numbers seem almost quaint compared to what we went through in 2020-2021 when everyone was filing for UI benefits.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone to ask questions, I recently found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was stuck trying to reach someone about my claim status for weeks before using it.
Just to add - while most stuff is online, there are still American Job Centers (formerly called One-Stop Career Centers) around the state if you need help with job searching or using computers. But for unemployment benefits specifically, yeah it's all through the NYS Department of Labor website. Don't let anyone tell you that you HAVE to go somewhere in person for your UI claim.
The $7,000 wage base is what trips people up. It's per employee per year, not total payroll. So if you have 3 employees making $50,000 each, you only pay FUTA on the first $7,000 of each person's wages, not on their full salaries.
CosmicCowboy
The whole system is ridiculous anyway. They make it so complicated to figure out if you even qualify and then the application process is a joke. I've been fighting with them for weeks over some stupid technicality about my last day of work.
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Paolo Longo
•ugh tell me about it... at least they finally got rid of some of the pandemic stuff that was making everything even more confusing
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Natasha Orlova
Just file the application! Worst case they deny it and you can appeal. Better to try than assume you don't qualify.
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