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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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I'm in a similar boat - just started working at a synagogue a few months ago and wasn't sure about the unemployment situation if things don't work out. From reading everyone's responses it sounds like most religious organizations in NY do participate in the unemployment system. It's reassuring to know that filing won't cause any issues even if there's uncertainty about eligibility. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread has been really informative for those of us working in religious organizations!
I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you too! It really does seem like most religious organizations in New York participate in the unemployment system just like regular employers. I was in the same position as the original poster - worried about whether working for a religious organization would somehow disqualify me. But from everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the key thing is just whether your employer has been paying into the unemployment fund, regardless of whether they're religious or not. The NYS Department of Labor will sort out the eligibility during the claims process. Hope things work out well at your synagogue!
I was in a very similar situation last year when I got laid off from my job as a youth coordinator at a Methodist church in upstate NY. I was so worried about the religious exemption issue that I almost didn't file, but I'm glad I did! My claim was approved without any issues. The church had been paying unemployment taxes all along. The NYS Department of Labor representatives I spoke with said that most churches in New York do participate in the system unless they're very small operations. Don't let the religious aspect discourage you from filing - you earned those benefits through your work. The online application process was straightforward and I received my first payment within a few weeks. Best of luck with your claim!
This is so helpful to hear! I've been reading through all these responses and it's really reassuring to see so many people who had similar experiences with different types of religious organizations - churches, parishes, synagogues - and they all got approved for unemployment benefits. It sounds like the religious aspect really isn't the barrier I was worried it would be. I'm definitely going to file my claim now. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, it's made me feel much more confident about the process!
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Just to add some clarity on the extended benefits question - New York does participate in the federal Extended Benefits (EB) program, but it only triggers when the state's unemployment rate hits certain levels (usually above 6.5% for 13 weeks). During COVID we had programs like PEUC and PUA that added many more weeks, but those were special pandemic programs that have ended. The trigger rates for EB are calculated monthly, so theoretically it could activate again if unemployment gets high enough, but as Emma mentioned, there are currently no extensions available. Your best bet is to use those 26 weeks wisely and really focus on that job search!
This is really helpful information about the Extended Benefits program! I had no idea there were specific trigger rates based on unemployment levels. So basically we're at the mercy of how bad the job market gets statewide. It's kind of scary to think that 26 weeks might be all we get, especially since it can take months to find a good job that matches your skills and pays decently. At least knowing about the 6.5% trigger gives me something to keep an eye on. Thanks for explaining how the system actually works - the NYS DOL website doesn't make any of this very clear.
One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand your weekly benefit amount calculation before those 26 weeks start ticking by. Your benefit is based on your highest quarter of earnings in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). I made the mistake of not checking this when I first applied and was surprised my weekly amount was lower than expected because I had switched jobs mid-year. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income - you can have taxes withheld or you'll owe when you file your return. Better to know this upfront than get hit with a big tax bill later!
This is such important info about the benefit calculation! I wish I had known about the base period thing before I filed. Is there any way to fix it if your base period doesn't include your highest earning quarters? Like if you had a promotion or job change that happened too recently to count? Also really good point about the taxes - I definitely want to have them withheld because I don't want to deal with owing a bunch of money next year on top of everything else.
You can request an alternate base period if your regular base period doesn't reflect your recent earnings! You need to file form IA 12.3 with NYS DOL and provide documentation of your recent wages. The alternate base period uses the most recent 4 quarters instead of the standard calculation. This is especially helpful if you had a significant raise or job change in the months before filing. As for taxes, you can elect to have 10% federal taxes withheld when you file your weekly claims - there's a checkbox option for this. Definitely recommend doing it since unemployment benefits are taxed as regular income.
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It's good to hear you got through! For anyone else facing identity theft issues with NY unemployment:\n\n1. Try the fraud hotline (1-888-598-2077) during non-peak hours (Tuesday-Thursday afternoons tend to be better)\n2. Use Claimyr if you continue having trouble getting through\n3. Contact your state assembly member's office as a backup\n4. Complete all the required forms (ID-520, DTF-275)\n5. Place credit freezes at all three bureaus\n6. File an FTC report at IdentityTheft.gov\n\nIdentity theft cases require persistence but can be resolved with the right approach.
I went through this nightmare myself about 6 months ago! One thing that really helped me was calling the NYSDOL fraud line early in the morning (like 7:50am) and then hitting redial constantly until I got through. Also, when you do get connected, ask the agent to give you their direct extension and the best time to call them back - this saved me so much time for follow-up questions. Another tip: keep a detailed log of every call attempt with timestamps. It helped when I finally spoke to someone to show how many times I'd tried to reach them. Hang in there - it's incredibly frustrating but you WILL get it resolved!
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THE WORST PART IS TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE PHONE OMFG. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach a human being at NY unemployment to fix an issue with my claim. The phone system is a joke - either busy signals or it hangs up on you after making you go through all the prompts!!!
what's that? never heard of it.
It's a service that calls unemployment for you and stays on hold, then connects you when a real person picks up. Only way I finally got through after weeks of trying.
Hey Hunter! I'm in a similar situation - bartender at a place in Manhattan that went from packed to ghost town practically overnight. I successfully got partial unemployment and it's been a lifesaver while I figure things out. The key things that helped me: 1) When you apply online, be super clear that your hours were cut due to "lack of work" not that you're "still employed" 2) Keep detailed records of your daily earnings and days worked - you'll need this for weekly certification 3) Try to consolidate your shifts into fewer days if possible because of NY's weird day-counting system. Also heads up - the website will probably crash on you multiple times during the application process. Don't give up! Save your progress frequently. The whole system is frustrating but the benefits really help bridge the gap. Good luck and hang in there - this rough patch won't last forever! 🙏
@Dylan Mitchell This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this out. I m'definitely going to apply tonight and I ll'make sure to emphasize the lack "of work angle." The tip about consolidating shifts is huge - I had no idea about NY s'day-counting system until reading this thread. It s'insane that working 1 hour counts the same as working 8 hours for a day. Quick question - how long did it take for your benefits to start coming in after you applied? I m'really stressed about making rent and need to know if I should be looking for emergency assistance too.
@Dylan Mitchell This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I m'the original poster and I m'going to apply tonight using your advice. Quick question about the weekly certification - do you report tips separately from wages or all together as total earnings? Also, did you run into any issues with them questioning whether your hour reduction was voluntary "vs" involuntary? I m'worried they might think I chose to work less when really management just cut everyone s'shifts due to slow business.
Paolo Conti
Don't stress too much about the wording. The NYS Department of Labor system is pretty straightforward if you're legitimately eligible. Since you were laid off through no fault of your own, you should be fine. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week and keep looking for work. Missing even one weekly claim can cause delays.
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Amina Diallo
ugh the whole system is such a pain... took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and that was with everything filled out correctly. good luck!
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Zainab Omar
•6 weeks?? That's terrifying, I need the money to pay rent
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