New York Unemployment
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Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the NYDOL
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the NYDOL drops your call
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Need NY unemployment phone number shortcut - lost screenshot on how to reach a real person
I had this amazingly helpful screenshot that showed exactly how to navigate the NY unemployment phone system to actually get a human on the line. I've been trying to call about my claim for days and keep getting stuck in the automated system. Anyone have that step-by-step guide or know the right options to press? I'm about to lose my mind trying to talk to someone about my back payments that haven't processed for 3 weeks.
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Can real estate agents get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I've been working as a real estate agent for the past 2 years but the market has been really slow and I haven't had any sales in months. My brokerage isn't providing me with any base salary - it's all commission based. Can I file for unemployment benefits with NYS Department of Labor since I'm basically not making any income? I'm confused about whether real estate agents qualify since we're technically independent contractors. Has anyone been in this situation before?
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wait so if your an independent contractor you NEVER qualify for unemployment?? that seems really messed up especially with how the economy is right now
Generally that's correct for regular state unemployment benefits. Independent contractors don't pay into the unemployment insurance system, so they can't collect from it. There were some federal programs during COVID that covered contractors, but those ended.
I'm a former real estate agent who went through this exact situation last year. You're right that as an independent contractor getting 1099s, you won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits. However, I'd suggest calling NYS Department of Labor anyway to confirm your specific situation - sometimes there are edge cases or recent policy changes that might apply. Also, look into other assistance programs like SNAP or local food banks to help bridge the gap while you're between sales. The real estate market is tough right now but it will pick up again. Have you considered getting your broker's license or looking into property management as alternative income streams?
If I fire someone do I pay unemployment - NYS Department of Labor employer obligations?
I own a small restaurant and had to let go one of my servers last week for consistently showing up late and missing shifts. Now they're saying they're going to file for unemployment and that I'll have to pay for it. Is this true? Do I as the employer actually pay their unemployment benefits if I fired them? I'm confused about how this works with NYS Department of Labor. The employee wasn't doing their job properly so I don't think they should get benefits but I'm not sure what my responsibility is here.
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just respond honestly to whatever NYS Department of Labor sends you and you'll be fine. most employers overthink this stuff
One thing to keep in mind is timing - make sure you respond quickly to any notices from NYS Department of Labor. They usually give you about 10 days to respond with your side of the story. If you miss that deadline, they might approve the claim by default even if you had good reasons for the termination. Also document the dates of the attendance issues and any progressive discipline you used - that shows you gave them a fair chance to improve before firing them.
New York Unemployment SEAP Application Timeline - No Response After 12 Days
Applied for the self employment assistance program through ny unemployment. Been waiting for 12 days with no word back. Starting to get worried they'll deny me. Anyone have experience with SEAP approval times?
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Just went through this process last month! The waiting is brutal but totally normal. My timeline was: - Applied on a Monday - Got a confirmation email same day - Radio silence for 18 days (was panicking!) - Finally got approval letter in the mail on day 19 Pro tip: they're super backed up right now because of high demand. If you submitted everything correctly, you should be good. The key things they look for are a solid business plan (doesn't need to be crazy detailed but should show you thought it through) and proof you can actually run the business. Hang tight @Anastasia! 12 days is still within normal range 🤞
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - applied 10 days ago and haven't heard anything back! Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring. Sounds like 2-4 weeks is pretty normal. @Anastasia have you tried checking your mail yet? Some people seem to get responses by mail rather than email. Also thinking about trying that claimyr service a few people mentioned if I don't hear back by day 20. Good luck to both of us! 🤞
Hey @Sophie! Yes I've been checking my mailbox religiously every day lol. Nothing yet but sounds like most people get mail responses around the 2-3 week mark. Really hoping we both hear back soon! This waiting game is stressing me out but everyone's timelines here are making me feel way better about it. Let me know if you end up trying claimyr - curious to hear if it actually works!
NY unemployment forfeit days penalty - do I still claim weekly benefits?
Been hit with forfeit days on my NY unemployment claim and I'm super confused about what to do next. The determination letter says I have 18 forfeit days as a penalty (something about incorrect info on my application from last year). Does anyone know if I'm supposed to keep claiming my weekly benefits during this forfeit period? Will I eventually get paid once the forfeit days are used up, or am I just wasting my time filling out the weekly certification? Any help appreciated!
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That's really good advice, thank you. I'm definitely going to be extra careful with all my certifications going forward. This has been such a stressful experience that I never want to deal with forfeit days again!
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Had 21 forfeit days due to a reporting issue and I was panicking about whether to keep certifying. Definitely keep doing your weekly certifications - I cannot stress this enough. The forfeit days basically mean you're serving a "time penalty" where you won't get paid, but you're still using up your benefit weeks. Think of it like being benched from a sports game - you're still part of the team, just not getting to play (or in this case, get paid) for a set period. Once I got through my forfeit period, payments resumed automatically. The system doesn't really notify you clearly when it's over, so keep a calendar count like others suggested. Hang in there!
Amina Sy
This NEVER works for me! The system just ignores what I say and goes back to the same stupid menu no matter what I try!! 🤬
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Amina Bah
I feel your pain! I was stuck in the same nightmare loop for weeks. What finally worked for me was a combination of tips from this thread - I called at exactly 7:58am on a Thursday using Javier's updated sequence (1-888-209-8124, then 1 for claimant services, 3 for payment issues, 9 for rep). The key was having EVERYTHING ready beforehand like Oliver mentioned - claim ID, SSN, work history dates, and all determination letter numbers written down. Even then I waited 1.5 hours on hold but finally got through to someone who could actually help. Don't give up - it really does work if you hit the right timing and have all your paperwork ready!
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