The whole system is rigged against small businesses IMO. We pay these huge taxes and then when we actually need to contest a fraudulent claim it takes months to get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor. Meanwhile our rates keep going up because of claims we shouldn't even be charged for!

For what it's worth, you can also appeal your experience rating if you think it's incorrect. I had to do this once when claims from a previous business acquisition were incorrectly attributed to our account. The process isn't fun but it's possible to get adjustments made. Just make sure you have good documentation of your payroll and employment records. The key is understanding that the system is meant to be self-balancing - employers who rarely have claims subsidize those who have more frequent layoffs.

Yes, there are separate penalties for late filing and late payment with NYS Department of Labor. Even if you file your quarterly report on time, you'll still face interest charges and penalties if you don't pay the taxes owed by the deadline. The interest rate is set by the state and compounds daily, so it adds up quickly. I learned this the hard way when I had a cash flow issue one quarter - filed on time but paid a week late and got hit with both interest and a penalty fee. It's worth setting up automatic payments or at least calendar reminders to avoid these extra costs.

For penalty specifics, NYS Department of Labor typically charges 1% per month for late payments (with a minimum penalty) plus daily compound interest that's adjusted periodically. The exact rates can change so check their current penalty schedule. As for automatic payments, you can set them up through the NY.gov online services portal once you have your employer account established - look for the "Online Services" section on the DOL website. You'll need your employer registration number to access it. I'd recommend calling them to confirm the current penalty structure since rates can shift annually, and having that direct confirmation helps with your budgeting planning.

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - apply immediately! I was fired for attendance issues about 4 months ago while caring for my mother who has dementia and kept having medical episodes that required emergency room visits. Like you, I couldn't always call before my shift started because I'd be rushing her to the hospital at 5 AM or dealing with a crisis situation. I was terrified that being fired would automatically disqualify me, but NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 5 weeks of review. The investigator was very understanding when I explained that caring for an elderly parent with dementia isn't something you can schedule around. What helped my case was keeping detailed records of every medical visit, saving screenshots of my texts to my supervisor, and being completely honest during the phone interview about the timeline of events. Even when I had to explain that sometimes I couldn't call until hours after my shift was supposed to start because I was in an ER waiting room, they understood that those were genuine emergency circumstances beyond my control. The relief when I got approved was incredible - it made such a difference while I was job searching and still managing my mom's care. Don't let fear keep you from applying for benefits you've earned!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was fired for attendance issues 2 months ago when my mom was going through chemo treatments and I had to take her to multiple appointments and deal with emergency hospitalizations. Like many of you, I was convinced that being fired meant automatic denial and almost didn't apply. But reading all these success stories gave me the courage to file my claim, and I just got approved last week after a 4-week investigation! The investigator was incredibly understanding when I explained the medical circumstances and reviewed all my documentation - appointment confirmations, hospital records, and text messages to my supervisor. What really helped was being completely honest about the timeline, including times when I couldn't call before my shift because we were in the ER dealing with chemo complications. To everyone still hesitating - please don't let fear stop you from applying! NYS Department of Labor really does evaluate each case individually, and caring for seriously ill family members is exactly the kind of legitimate circumstance they understand isn't misconduct. You've earned these benefits through your work contributions, and you deserve a fair review of your situation. File your claim today and keep all your medical documentation organized - you've got this!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your wage history or get questions answered about your potential benefit amount, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was worth it for me since I couldn't get through on my own after trying for days.

One more thing to consider - if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately even if you're getting severance pay. The waiting period starts from when you file, not when the severance runs out. I made the mistake of waiting until my severance ended and lost out on a week of benefits because of the mandatory waiting week. Also, severance typically won't affect your eligibility as long as you're genuinely unemployed and available for work.

UPDATE: I was able to get through to someone at NY unemployment! I used the Claimyr service that someone suggested earlier and got connected to an agent within 25 minutes (which is miraculous compared to my previous attempts). The agent confirmed they can mail my 1099-G to my parents' address in New York. They said it should arrive within 7-10 business days. Just wanted to update in case anyone else has a similar issue. Thanks everyone for your help!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. The geographic IP blocking makes total sense from a security standpoint, but it's definitely frustrating when you're legitimately trying to access your own tax documents. Good to know there are multiple solutions - the official phone line, written requests, and services like Claimyr. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and workarounds!