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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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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Try calling the alternate number: 1-888-209-8124. Their main line is always jammed but sometimes this one has shorter wait times.
really? I got through yesterday after only 45 min wait
use claimyr.com if you can't get through. way easier than trying yourself
I had the exact same issue last week! What finally worked for me was switching to a different internet connection entirely - I went to a coffee shop and used their wifi. Apparently some ISPs have issues with the NY unemployment site's security certificates. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere. If that doesn't work, definitely document everything with screenshots showing the error messages and timestamps - that way you have proof you tried to meet the deadline. The system is absolutely terrible but don't let it stress you out too much, they can't penalize you for their technical problems if you can show you made good faith efforts to comply.
That's really smart thinking about the ISP/security certificate issue! I never would have thought of that. I'm definitely going to try a different network tomorrow and will make sure to screenshot everything. Really appreciate the advice about documenting attempts - that makes me feel less panicked about the deadline. Did you end up getting your benefits without any delays once you got it uploaded?
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I'm going through something very similar right now - my company just announced they're moving from Rochester to Manhattan and I'm terrified about losing my benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It sounds like the key is documenting everything thoroughly and using the right terminology like "constructive dismissal" when filing. The fact that so many people here have successfully gotten approved for similar relocations gives me hope. Does anyone know if there's a specific time limit for filing after your last day of work? I want to make sure I don't miss any deadlines while I'm gathering all my documentation.
You generally have to file for unemployment within 30 days of your last day of work to avoid any potential issues, though NYS allows filing up to a year after job separation. I'd recommend filing as soon as possible after your last day to get the process started. Rochester to Manhattan is an even more extreme case than most mentioned here - that's like 350+ miles! You should definitely qualify given that distance. When you file, make sure to emphasize both the unreasonable distance and the fact that relocating to NYC would likely mean significantly higher living costs that make it financially unfeasible. Document everything about the move announcement and start calculating your potential commute costs and time. Your case sounds very strong based on all the successful examples shared here!
I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my employer is relocating from Albany to Long Island - about 180 miles away. After reading all these helpful responses, I feel much more confident about filing for unemployment benefits. It's clear that NYS Department of Labor recognizes employer relocation beyond reasonable commuting distance as "good cause" or "constructive dismissal." For anyone else in this situation, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) Document everything about the relocation announcement, 2) Calculate the actual distance and commute time to show undue hardship, 3) Don't let HR discourage you - they're often wrong about unemployment eligibility, 4) File within 30 days of your last work day, and 5) Be very detailed in your application about why the move creates a financial or personal hardship. Syracuse to Buffalo at 150+ miles is definitely well above the threshold based on all these successful cases shared here. Thanks everyone for providing such detailed experiences - it's incredibly helpful for those of us navigating this stressful situation!
This is such a comprehensive summary - thank you for pulling together all the key points! Your Albany to Long Island situation at 180 miles is definitely another clear-cut case that should qualify. I'm in a similar boat and have been taking notes from everyone's experiences here. One thing I'd add is that several people mentioned keeping screenshots of Google Maps showing the distance and drive time, which seems like really practical documentation to include with the application. It's amazing how many of us are dealing with company relocations right now - seems like it's becoming more common post-pandemic. Best of luck with your claim, and thanks for organizing all the advice so clearly!
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The whole system is so confusing!! Why don't they explain this stuff better when you first apply? I've been terrified to take any work because I thought I'd lose everything.
right?? the nys department of labor website is terrible at explaining the rules
Just want to add my experience - I was in a similar situation and decided to keep filing while working part-time. Best decision I made! The partial benefits really helped bridge the gap until my hours increased. The key is being completely honest about your earnings on the weekly certification. NYS Department of Labor has gotten pretty good at cross-checking with employers, so don't try to hide income. Also, if your part-time job does become full-time and you're earning over your benefit amount, your claim will just go dormant and you can reactivate it later if needed without losing your remaining benefit weeks.
This is really helpful advice! I'm new to unemployment benefits and had the same misconception as the original poster. So just to clarify - if I report my part-time earnings honestly and later my hours get cut back, I can just continue filing weekly claims without having to restart the whole application process? And my benefit year clock keeps running the whole time?
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Same boat here, been doing the minimum 3 activities but maybe I need to do more? My adjudication officer mentioned something about 'good faith effort' during my phone interview.
The 3 activities is the minimum but showing more effort definitely looks better if your claim gets reviewed. Quality over quantity though - better to have 3 really strong applications than 6 random ones.
From my experience, the most effective combo is direct applications + follow-up calls + visiting local career centers. I was stuck for 3 months just doing online applications, but once I started actually calling employers a few days after applying AND attending the free resume workshops at my local One-Stop Career Center, things picked up fast. The career center staff also helped me identify which job boards actually have real postings vs the fake ones that just collect your info. Also don't overlook LinkedIn networking - sending personalized messages to people in your field counts as a networking activity and sometimes leads to referrals.
This is really helpful advice! I've been mostly sticking to online applications but hadn't thought about the follow-up calls - that makes so much sense. Which One-Stop Career Center did you go to? And do you have any tips for what to say when you call employers after applying? I always feel awkward doing that but sounds like it really makes a difference.
Dylan Hughes
Just went through this same situation last month with my restaurant. One tip that really helped - when you're uploading documentation through the employer portal, make sure your files are in PDF format and clearly labeled (like "Employee_LastName_Written_Warning_Date.pdf"). The system can be finicky with other file types. Also, if you have any text messages or emails related to the tardiness issues, include those too. I found that showing the employee was aware of the attendance policy and consequences really strengthened my case. The whole process took about 3 weeks to resolve once I submitted everything properly.
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Arjun Kurti
•This is really practical advice about file formatting - I didn't realize the portal could be picky about that. Since you mentioned text messages, I'm curious about one thing: if the employee communicated about their attendance issues via text, do you need to include the entire conversation thread or just the relevant parts? I want to make sure I'm not overwhelming them with unnecessary information but also don't want to leave out important context that shows the employee understood the consequences.
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Teresa Boyd
•@4b90247f29c0 For text messages, I'd recommend including the full conversation threads that are directly relevant to the attendance issues - this provides proper context and shows the complete communication pattern. You can redact any personal information that's not work-related, but keep anything that demonstrates the employee's acknowledgment of policies, excuses given, or warnings received. I usually organize these chronologically and highlight the key parts. It's better to provide complete context than to risk having them question whether you're cherry-picking information. The reviewers appreciate seeing the full picture of how the situation developed over time.
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Aisha Rahman
As a small business owner who's dealt with several unemployment claims, I'd strongly recommend setting up a dedicated folder (digital and physical) for unemployment-related documents right now. Even after you resolve this current claim, you'll want to keep records of your response and any decisions for your files. Also, make sure whoever handles HR/payroll at your business knows the process for future claims - it's unfortunately not uncommon to get multiple notices over the years. One last tip: if you use a payroll service like ADP or Paychex, they often have resources or can help you gather the wage information needed for these responses, which can save you time digging through records.
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Yuki Ito
•This is excellent advice about setting up a system for future claims - I wish I had thought of that earlier! As someone new to this process, I'm wondering: should I also document our standard disciplinary procedures and attendance policies more formally going forward? It seems like having clear, written policies that employees acknowledge could make these situations much smoother if they come up again. Also, do you know if there's a typical timeframe I should keep these unemployment claim records for business/tax purposes?
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Zainab Omar
•@8788e1ff7fa8 Yes, absolutely document your policies more formally! Having a clear employee handbook with attendance policies, progressive discipline procedures, and signed acknowledgment forms makes a huge difference. For record retention, I keep unemployment claim documents for at least 4 years - that covers most audit periods and statute of limitations issues. Also consider implementing a simple tracking system for employee warnings and performance issues as they happen, rather than scrambling to find documentation after someone files a claim. It's saved me so much stress in subsequent cases.
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