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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! They can't calculate benefits correctly but they sure can demand money back fast enough. I've been fighting an overpayment for 6 months and they just keep sending threatening letters.
wait are you sure you're even supposed to get less? maybe your calculation is right and you're worrying for nothing. the NYS Department of Labor uses your highest earning quarter times 26 or something like that
Your boss sounds like he's trying to make you feel bad for claiming benefits you're entitled to. That's manipulative behavior and you shouldn't feel guilty about filing. The unemployment system exists specifically for situations like yours.
this is so confusing!!! i'm dealing with the same thing and nobody at NYS Department of Labor could explain it to me when i called. took forever to get through and they just transferred me around
I had the same problem trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor about this exact question. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to agents faster. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
The confusion makes sense because both programs involve government payments for people who can't work their regular jobs. But unemployment is for people temporarily out of work who are looking for new jobs, while SSI is for people who can't work due to disability. You can receive unemployment while applying for disability, but if you get approved for disability, you'll need to report that unemployment income to Social Security.
This whole situation sounds fishy to me. No legitimate employer pays someone $3 for ANY amount of work. You definitely got scammed and should pursue that wage complaint. Also check if you worked anywhere else during your base period - even small amounts from multiple jobs can add up to meet the minimum requirements.
Oliver Weber
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get more details about how the system works, I used claimyr.com recently and it was actually helpful. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck trying to get through to an agent for days about my claim status and this service got me connected in under an hour.
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FireflyDreams
•interesting, never heard of that service before but calling NYS Department of Labor is definitely a nightmare
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Natasha Kuznetsova
The whole unemployment system is basically employer-funded social insurance. They pay taxes whether anyone files claims or not, just like how you pay car insurance premiums even if you never have an accident. The state pools all those tax payments and uses them to pay benefits when people become unemployed.
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