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Nick Kravitz

NYS Department of Labor claim denied after minimum wage increase - how does increasing minimum wage affect unemployment eligibility?

My employer laid me off last month citing the recent minimum wage increases as making my position too expensive. When I filed for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor, my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks and was eventually denied. The denial letter mentions something about 'work availability at prevailing wage rates' but I'm confused about how minimum wage changes affect unemployment eligibility. Has anyone else dealt with this after getting laid off due to wage increases? I've been searching for work but most jobs in my area are offering the new minimum wage which my previous employer said they couldn't afford. Not sure if this affects my job search requirements either.

I've been helping people with unemployment appeals for years and this denial doesn't make sense based on what you've described. When you file your appeal, emphasize these points: 1) You were laid off due to lack of work/economic reasons 2) You are able, available and actively seeking work 3) You're willing to accept suitable employment at prevailing wage rates. The minimum wage increase is irrelevant to your eligibility. If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to discuss this, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get through to unemployment agents. They have a video demo 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 appeal.

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Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I'll definitely check out that service if I can't get through on my own. The phone lines have been impossible lately.

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Claimyr actually worked for me last month when I needed to update my job search requirements. Got connected within like 20 minutes instead of calling all day.

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same thing happened to my brother last year, he appealed and won but it took forever. just keep trying to call them every day until someone explains what happened with your claim

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Giovanni Mancini

NYS Department of Labor claim after layoff due to tariffs affecting our manufacturing plant

Got laid off last month when our textile manufacturing company in Buffalo had to cut 40% of staff because new tariffs made our imported materials too expensive to stay competitive. Filed my UI claim three weeks ago but still haven't received my first payment. My former supervisor said several other plants in the area are facing similar issues with trade policy changes affecting their costs. Has anyone else filed unemployment after tariff-related layoffs? The NYS Department of Labor website doesn't seem to have any specific guidance about this situation and I'm worried my claim might get stuck in adjudication.

Wait, so if a company lays people off because of tariffs, does that qualify for unemployment? I thought there might be some kind of trade-related assistance program instead? I'm so confused about all these different benefit types and what applies when.

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Regular unemployment insurance covers any involuntary job loss regardless of the company's reason. There are separate federal trade adjustment programs, but those are different applications entirely and don't affect your UI eligibility.

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My cousin went through something similar when his automotive parts plant had layoffs due to supply chain cost increases. Took about 4 weeks total to get his first payment but everything worked out fine once the initial claim was processed. Just keep filing those weekly claims!

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Amelia Dietrich

What does unemployment insurance actually cover in NY - confused about NYS Department of Labor benefits

I just lost my job last week and everyone keeps telling me to file for unemployment insurance but I honestly don't understand what it actually does or covers. Like I know it's money but how much? Do I get it right away? Does it cover health insurance too? I'm 24 and this is my first time being unemployed so I'm completely lost. Can someone explain what NYS Department of Labor unemployment insurance actually provides? I worked at a restaurant for 8 months if that matters.

Don't get your hopes up too high. The whole unemployment system is designed to make it as hard as possible to actually get benefits. They'll find any excuse to deny your claim or make you jump through hoops. I know people who worked for years and still got denied for stupid technicalities.

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That's really discouraging but good to know what I might be dealing with. Better to have realistic expectations I guess.

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Just to add - you also need to register with the NYS job portal and document your job search activities. They require you to actively look for work and can ask for proof. It's not just free money, you have to show you're trying to find employment.

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Charlotte Jones

NYS Department of Labor denied my claim - reasons why you can't get unemployment benefits

Just got my determination letter from NYS Department of Labor and they denied my unemployment claim. I'm trying to understand all the different reasons why you can't get unemployment so I know if I should appeal or not. My situation is that I got fired for missing too many days but it was because my kid kept getting sick and daycare wouldn't take him. Does anyone know the full list of disqualification reasons? I thought I read somewhere that attendance issues might not automatically disqualify you but I'm not sure. Really need to know if it's worth fighting this or if I should just move on.

wait so if my kid gets sick and I have to stay home that counts as misconduct?? thats insane

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Not necessarily - it depends on factors like whether you exhausted other childcare options, if you gave proper notice, if you tried to arrange coverage, and what your company's policies were. Child care emergencies can sometimes qualify as good cause but it's evaluated case by case.

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Update: I think I'm going to appeal this. Reading through everything you all posted it sounds like my situation might have some gray areas worth fighting for. At minimum I need to understand exactly what they consider misconduct in my case.

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Good choice! You have 30 days from the determination date to file your appeal. Make sure to gather any documentation about your childcare situation and attendance records.

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Liam Fitzgerald

What is the percentage of unemployment pay calculation for NYS Department of Labor benefits?

I'm trying to figure out exactly how much I'll get from unemployment. I know it's based on your previous wages but I can't find clear info on what percentage of your old salary the NYS Department of Labor actually pays out. Is it 50%? 60%? And is that before or after taxes? My last job paid $52,000 annually and I'm trying to budget while I look for work. Anyone know the exact formula they use?

The percentage thing is misleading because it depends on your work pattern. I worked seasonal jobs so my high quarter was way different than my low quarters. Got way less than 50% of what I thought I'd get. NYS Department of Labor really needs better calculators on their website.

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same here! thought id get way more than what they approved me for. the whole system is designed to confuse people

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