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mine took about 10 days last year when i got laid off from my warehouse job, but that was before all the recent changes to the system
Just want to add that you should start filing your weekly claims right away even if your initial claim isn't approved yet. You can't get paid for weeks you don't certify, so don't wait! Log into my.ny.gov every Sunday to file your weekly claim.
The whole system was a mess during that time. Biden extended a lot of the pandemic programs that were about to expire under Trump, but the NYS Department of Labor took forever to update their systems. A lot of people had gaps in their benefits while they figured it out. You should check your payment history in your online account to see exactly what you received and when.
Ugh this brings back bad memories! I had to reapply for everything and it took months to get straightened out. The NYS Department of Labor really dropped the ball on communication during that transition.
honestly the NYS Department of Labor phone system is so bad that if you run into any issues you'll spend hours trying to reach someone. I had a problem with my weekly claim filing and couldn't get through for days. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Might be worth bookmarking in case you need to talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor.
Stick with unemployment if you can afford it! I made the mistake of taking a crappy retail job too quickly after getting laid off and it made interviewing for real positions almost impossible. Plus once you're working, you can't collect unemployment anymore even if the new job doesn't work out (well, you can but you'd have to reapply and qualify all over again).
I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had wage calculation questions. Tried calling for weeks but kept getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent who could review my earnings history. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process way easier than trying to navigate the phone system myself.
Commission jobs are tricky for unemployment calculations because your income varies so much. I worked commission sales too and my benefit amount was based on my best quarter, not the terrible final months before I got laid off. The NYS Department of Labor system actually worked in my favor that way. Just make sure all your employers reported your wages correctly.
Layla Sanders
The key thing is whether you earned enough wages during your benefit year to meet the monetary requirements for a new claim. If you worked part-time while collecting, those earnings could count toward establishing a new benefit year. You'll need to file a new application and they'll determine if you're monetarily eligible based on your recent work history.
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Morgan Washington
•This is so confusing! Why doesn't the NYS Department of Labor website explain this stuff more clearly? I'm terrified I'll mess something up if I try to refile.
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Kaylee Cook
I had the same issue last year and couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor no matter how many times I called. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. The agent was able to review my work history and walk me through the refiling process. Turned out I did qualify for a new claim.
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Oliver Alexander
•How does that work exactly? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at NYS Department of Labor these days.
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Kaylee Cook
•It's legit - they basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Way better than spending hours on hold just to get disconnected.
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