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the whole unemployment system is such a mess anyway, federal or state doesn't matter when you can't even get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask basic questions about your claim!! been waiting 3 weeks just to find out why my payment was reduced
The restaurant industry can be complicated for unemployment because of tip reporting issues. Make sure all your wages were properly reported to NYS Department of Labor by your employer. Sometimes cash tips that weren't reported can affect your benefit calculation even if you technically worked enough.
omg yes the tip thing is so confusing!! i worked at a diner and they barely reported any of my tips so my wages looked super low on the unemployment application
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to speak with someone about my claim status. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of trying to call myself.
make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing!! I made that mistake and it delayed everything
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about specific eligibility requirements, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly about your brother's situation.
The system is so confusing for young people trying to enter the workforce! My daughter had similar questions when she was in high school. Even if he doesn't qualify now, tell him to keep track of his earnings and work history because it might help him later if he faces unemployment after building up more work experience.
Jacob Smithson
Also remember to report ANY income you earn during unemployment on your weekly claims, even if it's just $20 from a side gig. NYS Department of Labor will find out eventually and then you'll owe back all the benefits plus penalties. Better to be honest upfront.
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Emily Jackson
same boat here, got laid off from restaurant work in december. the weekly filing is super easy once you get used to it but yeah the job search thing is annoying. at least we're getting some money coming in though!
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