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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
omg yes the calling is THE WORST! i've probably spent 20 hours trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor
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.
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.
honestly the whole system is messed up... you shouldnt have to jump through hoops to prove your income when youre already dealing with being unemployed. landlords act like unemployment makes you a bad tenant when really it shows you know how to work the system and get benefits you earned
Issac Nightingale
This is actually pretty fascinating! I had no idea there was this whole funding mechanism behind unemployment benefits. Makes me feel less guilty about collecting when I was between jobs last year.
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Romeo Barrett
The system has been around since the 1930s and it's one of the few government programs that's actually mostly self-funding through employer contributions rather than general tax revenue. NYS Department of Labor manages the state fund but the structure is similar across all states.
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Jackie Martinez
•That's really interesting! I had no idea it was that old. Thanks everyone for explaining this - makes me understand the system better.
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