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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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Just wanted to say thanks for asking this question - I'm in almost the exact same boat with owing taxes from when my business failed. Was also worried about applying but this thread convinced me to go ahead and file my claim.
Don't stress about the tax debt - it won't affect your UI eligibility at all! I work in HR and have helped tons of employees file unemployment claims over the years. NYS Department of Labor only looks at your employment history and separation reason. The IRS debt is completely unrelated. Just make sure you file your weekly certifications on time once you're approved. Construction workers usually qualify easily since layoffs are so common in that industry due to seasonal work and project completions.
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dont forget to bring proof of any training or education programs youve been in since filing. they love that stuff for the work search requirements
Good luck with your appointment! I just went through this process last month. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - bring a printed copy of your online unemployment account summary showing all the weeks you've certified and any messages from the system. They referenced mine several times during the meeting. Also, if you've had any other jobs or gig work since filing (even just a few hours), bring documentation of that income too. The whole appointment took about 45 minutes for me, and they were actually pretty helpful in explaining what was holding up my claim. Hope yours goes smoothly!
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Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I'm going to file my claim today and explain my situation as clearly as possible. Even if I can't get the back weeks, at least I'll start getting something going forward. I'll update here if I have any luck with the backdating request!
That's the right approach. One last tip: when explaining your situation, focus on any factors that were outside your control rather than just saying you thought you'd find work quickly. For instance, if you were actively interviewing and had promising leads that fell through, or if you were told by someone (incorrectly) that you wouldn't qualify. Best of luck!
Just want to add my experience here - I was in a very similar situation in 2023. Lost my job in August but didn't file until November because I was confident I'd land something quickly (spoiler: I didn't). When I finally filed, I was completely honest about my unemployment start date and explained that I had been actively job searching but didn't realize I should file immediately. The agent I spoke with was sympathetic but explained that NY generally doesn't backdate for "personal choice" reasons, even when that choice was based on optimism about finding work. I didn't get any backpay, but here's what I learned: file your initial claim online at labor.ny.gov, and when you get to the section asking why you're filing now instead of when you first became unemployed, be completely honest but frame it around any external factors if possible. Did you have interviews lined up? Were you told by someone you might not qualify? Any documentation helps. The silver lining is that once you're in the system, NY unemployment benefits are pretty decent compared to other states. You'll likely get benefits going forward, which is better than nothing. Don't let the potential backpay denial discourage you from filing - every week you wait is another week of benefits you're definitely losing.
The online application is mostly straightforward, but here are a few tips that would have saved me time: Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready before you start. The system will ask for specific dates (like your last day of work), employer addresses, and your gross wages from each job. If you don't have exact figures, estimates are okay but try to be as accurate as possible. The whole process took me about 45 minutes. One thing that confused me was the "reason for separation" dropdown - for layoffs/terminations, choose "lack of work" rather than "discharged" (which sounds like you were fired for cause). Good luck with your application!
The online application is pretty straightforward overall, but there are a few things to watch out for. Make sure you have all your employment dates exact - they'll ask for start and end dates for every job in the past 18 months. Also, when it asks about the reason for separation, be specific (laid off, position eliminated, etc.) rather than just saying "lost job." The part where it asks when you became unemployed versus when you're filing - that's where you'll explain the gap. There's a text box for additional information. Keep it concise but clear about your situation. One tip: create your NY.gov account first before starting the unemployment application. It'll save you time and you'll need it anyway for weekly certifications later.
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I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check on my claim status after a similar situation. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals and hold time when I needed answers about my adjudication.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind if I have trouble getting through. Hopefully the process goes smoothly but good to have backup options.
I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. The key thing to remember is that being terminated during probation is actually pretty common and doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits. Since your employer cited performance/fit issues rather than misconduct, you should be in good shape. When you file your claim, be clear and honest about what happened - "terminated during probation period for not learning job duties quickly enough" or similar. Keep any documentation you have about the termination (emails, termination letter, etc.) in case the employer contests your claim. File as soon as possible after your last day to avoid any delays in benefit processing.
Zara Perez
Glad to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else facing this issue, here's a quick summary of possible solutions: 1. Check your online message inbox regularly for notices 2. Verify your benefit year is still active 3. Make sure you're completing the entire certification process 4. Try certifying through a different method (phone vs. online) 5. Check if you have any pending questionnaires in your account 6. Reach out to a claims specialist if the issue persists The certification loop problem is unfortunately common with NY unemployment in 2025, but it's almost always resolvable once you speak with a representative who can see the specific flag on your account.
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Mary Bates
This is such a common issue and it's maddening! I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The system kept accepting my certifications but then acting like I never submitted them. Turned out there was a work search verification flag on my account that I had no idea about. One thing that might help while you're trying to get through to someone - screenshot or write down your confirmation numbers every time you certify. When I finally got a rep on the phone, having those confirmation numbers helped prove I had been certifying regularly, and they were able to see the certifications in their system even though my online account didn't show them as processed. Also, if you're still having trouble getting through by phone, try calling right when they open (usually 8am) or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. The wait times are brutal but persistence pays off. Hope you get this sorted out soon!
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