This is really helpful information! I had no idea the rates could vary so much based on experience rating. One thing I'm still wondering about - does the size of the company affect these rates at all? Like would a small business with 5 employees pay the same percentage as a large corporation, assuming they have similar layoff histories? Also, is there any way for employees to actually see what rate their employer is paying, or is that confidential business information?

One thing that might help clarify this for everyone - the NYS DOL actually publishes an annual rate schedule that breaks down how the experience rating system works. New employers start at that 3.4% rate mentioned earlier, but after they've been in business for a few years and have enough data, their rate gets recalculated based on their "reserve ratio" - basically comparing how much they've paid in versus how much their former employees have claimed. Companies with positive reserve ratios (paid in more than was claimed) get lower rates, while those with negative ratios pay higher rates. It's actually a pretty fair system when you think about it, since it makes the costs directly tied to actual usage.

just put 00-0000000 if you dont know it, they'll figure it out later

If your small restaurant employer isn't responding to calls, you might also try checking if they have a business license posted somewhere visible - sometimes the FEIN is listed there. Another option is to look at any old paystubs you might have saved, as some employers include it. If all else fails, you can also try searching for the business on the IRS's online EIN database or contact the NYS Department of Labor's employer services division - they might be able to help you locate the FEIN using the business name and address.

Amazon absolutely pays unemployment taxes to NYS Department of Labor - there's no way around it for any employer in New York. I think your supervisor was either misinformed or trying to discourage you from filing. I worked at an Amazon warehouse upstate for about a year before getting let go, and I received my unemployment benefits without any major issues. The process took about 2-3 weeks for my first payment after filing online at my.ny.gov. Just make sure you file as soon as possible since there's a waiting period, and have all your employment documentation ready including start/end dates and reason for termination. Even if they try to contest it during adjudication, you have the right to appeal. Don't let them intimidate you out of benefits you've earned!

Amazon definitely pays unemployment taxes to NYS Department of Labor - your supervisor was either misinformed or trying to discourage you from filing. I got terminated from the Amazon warehouse in Long Island about 4 months ago and successfully received my benefits through NYS DOL. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for my first payment after I filed online. Make sure you apply immediately at my.ny.gov since there's a one-week waiting period before payments start. Have your employment dates, final pay stub, and any termination documentation ready when you file. Even if Amazon tries to contest your claim during adjudication (which they sometimes do for productivity-related terminations), you still have the right to appeal their decision. Don't let them intimidate you - you worked there for 8 months and earned those benefits!

Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week and report all earnings honestly. Missing even one weekly claim can mess up your whole benefit year and you might not be able to make it up later.

Another tip - if you had any salary increases or bonuses during your base period, make sure those are reflected correctly in your wage history. Sometimes employers don't report quarterly wages accurately to NYS Department of Labor right away. You can check your wage history online through the NY.gov unemployment portal to verify everything looks correct. If there are discrepancies, you can request a wage investigation which might increase your benefit calculation if higher wages weren't initially included.

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.