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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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I'm going through the same waiting period right now - submitted my application 8 days ago and still just seeing "application received" status. Reading through these responses is really helpful! I had no idea about the 3 work search activities per week requirement. @AstroExplorer do you know if volunteering or taking online courses counts toward those activities, or does it have to be actual job applications and interviews?
Hey @Keisha Robinson! From what I understand, NYS DOL is pretty specific about what counts as valid work search activities. Online courses and volunteering typically don't count toward your 3 weekly requirements unless they're directly job-related training programs approved by the DOL. The activities that definitely count are: job applications, job interviews, attending job fairs, networking events with potential employers, and contacting employers directly about positions. Some career counseling sessions might count too. I'd recommend focusing on actual job applications and employer contacts to be safe - you can always do the courses and volunteering as extras but don't rely on them to meet your weekly requirement.
Just wanted to add - if you're getting anxious about the wait time, you can try calling the NYS DOL customer service line (888-209-8124) but be prepared for long hold times. I found the best time to call is right when they open at 8am on weekdays. Also, make sure you have your confirmation number from when you submitted your application handy - they'll ask for it. While you're waiting, definitely start that job search log like others mentioned. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, company name, position applied for, and how I contacted them. Makes the weekly certification process much easier once you're approved!
Thanks for the tip about calling at 8am @Aria Washington! That's really smart timing advice. I'm definitely going to start that job search spreadsheet today - better to be over-prepared than scrambling later. Quick question though - when you say "how I contacted them" do you need to be specific like "applied through company website" vs just "online application"? I want to make sure I'm tracking the right level of detail for when I have to certify those weekly claims.
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Thanks everyone for explaining this! I was in the same boat as OP - felt weird about collecting benefits without understanding where the money comes from. It's actually pretty reassuring to know that employers were paying into this system specifically to cover unemployment situations. Makes me realize it really is something we've earned through working, not just a handout. My understanding now is that it's basically like any other type of insurance - you pay premiums (through your employer in this case) and then can file claims when you need it.
Exactly! That's such a perfect way to think about it - it really is just like any other insurance. I wish they explained this better when you first apply for benefits because I bet a lot of people have the same confusion we did. It would probably help reduce some of the stigma around using unemployment if more people understood it's literally an insurance system that was paid into on their behalf.
This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently on unemployment too and had the exact same questions. What really clicked for me is thinking about it like car insurance - you pay premiums (or in this case your employer does) and when you need to use it, you're not taking someone else's money, you're using the insurance you paid into. It's actually pretty smart how they set up the system so that employers with higher turnover rates pay more, just like how risky drivers pay higher car insurance premiums. Really takes away that guilt feeling about using the benefits!
That car insurance comparison is perfect! I never thought about it that way but it makes total sense. And you're absolutely right about the guilt thing - I think a lot of us feel bad about collecting benefits when we shouldn't. It's literally what the system was designed for. I'm going to use that explanation when my relatives start giving me grief about being on unemployment.
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This thread is so valuable! I'm dealing with this exact situation right now - just filed a new claim after my previous one ended 4 months ago. Reading everyone's experiences, it's clear the NY DOL system has some quirks when it comes to payment info. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) Your banking details might be saved but you still need to verify them, 2) There's often a "confirm" or "activate" step that's easy to miss, and 3) Taking screenshots is smart for your records. I'm definitely going to follow those detailed step-by-step instructions someone provided. It's frustrating that the system isn't more user-friendly, but at least this community helps fill in the gaps! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps those of us navigating this process.
This has been such an eye-opening thread for me too! I'm completely new to unemployment benefits and honestly had no idea there were so many potential pitfalls with the payment setup. The fact that your info can be saved but not activated is something I never would have thought to check. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences - it's clear this community really looks out for each other. I'm not filing a claim right now but I'm saving this thread for future reference because the step-by-step instructions and all the tips about screenshots and confirmation steps are gold. Thanks to everyone for making this less intimidating for newcomers like me!
Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I'm about to file my first unemployment claim ever after my contract position ended last week, and I had no idea there were so many nuances with the payment setup. Reading through everyone's experiences has been really educational - especially learning about that confirmation/activation step that seems to trip people up even when their banking info is saved. I'm definitely going to bookmark this conversation and follow those detailed step-by-step instructions when I set up my direct deposit. It's amazing how this community shares such practical, real-world advice that you just can't get from the official websites. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with their knowledge and helping newcomers like me navigate what seems like a pretty confusing system!
Welcome to the unemployment world! As someone who just went through this process for the first time a few months ago, I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed. This thread has been amazing - I wish I had found something like this when I was starting out! One thing I'd add from my experience is to also make sure you understand the weekly certification process and deadlines, because that's just as important as getting the payment method set up correctly. The NY DOL system definitely has a learning curve, but this community is such a great resource. Good luck with your claim!
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I'm going through this exact same issue right now and honestly the NY unemployment website is driving me insane! Just reading through all these responses and it's clear I'm not alone in this struggle. I'm on day 5 of trying to find my claim status and based on what everyone's sharing here, sounds like I need to be way more patient since it can take 7-10+ business days for anything to actually show up anywhere on the site (which is absolutely ridiculous but good to know!). Going to try the "My Online Services" → "Unemployment Insurance Online" → "Account Summary" path that multiple people mentioned and check ALL the different sections since apparently they scatter the info randomly. Definitely going to check my Messages/Correspondence inbox too - had no idea they put important updates there instead of somewhere obvious! Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed step-by-step instructions, this thread has been 100x more helpful than anything on the actual unemployment website. Will keep doing my weekly certs while I wait and try not to lose my mind 😅🤞
Hey Val! I totally feel your pain - I just went through this exact same nightmare about a month ago and it's seriously one of the most frustrating experiences ever! You're definitely not alone, the NY unemployment website is genuinely terrible. Being on day 5 is still pretty early based on what everyone's sharing here, so try not to panic yet even though I know it's super stressful! That multi-section checking approach is absolutely the way to go - I ended up finding my status under "Monetary Determination" but only after checking like 6 different places first because their system makes zero sense. The Messages inbox tip is clutch too, I almost missed a super important determination letter there! One thing that really helped me was setting a phone reminder to check just once per day instead of obsessively refreshing every hour - saved what was left of my sanity lol. The 7-10+ day timeline is honestly insane but seems to be completely normal unfortunately. Definitely keep those weekly certs going though, that's super important even while everything's still pending! You got this, hang in there! 💪
Ugh I'm literally going through this exact same thing right now and it's beyond frustrating! Been trying to find my claim status for the past week and the NY unemployment website is honestly designed like a maze 😤 After reading through everyone's super helpful responses here, I'm realizing I need to check way more places than I thought. Going to try the "My Online Services" → "Unemployment Insurance Online" → "Account Summary" path that so many people mentioned, and also check "Monetary Determination," "Payment History," AND "Claim Details" since apparently they randomly scatter info across different sections for no logical reason. The Messages/Correspondence inbox tip is really good to know too - never would have thought to look there for status updates! The 7-10+ business day timeline everyone's sharing is actually kind of reassuring since I'm only on day 6 and was starting to worry something went wrong. Definitely going to keep doing my weekly certifications while I wait. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed navigation steps - this community thread has been way more helpful than the entire official NY unemployment website! 🙏
Ella Harper
I'm in basically the same situation - lost my job in June and have been putting off filing because I kept hoping something would come through. Reading all these success stories is really encouraging though! It sounds like the key things are: 1) Actually getting through to someone (either 8am sharp or that claimyr service everyone mentions), 2) Having your termination paperwork ready, and 3) Being honest about job searching as your reason for delay. The fact that people are getting thousands in back pay even after waiting 6+ months gives me hope it's not too late. I've got my termination letter and a list of all the places I've applied since June. Probably going to try the claimyr service since $20 seems worth it to avoid weeks of calling hell. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - way more helpful than the generic advice you find elsewhere!
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Sofia Morales
•@Ella Harper I m'literally in the exact same situation - lost my job back in May and have been procrastinating on this for months! This thread has been such a lifesaver though. Seeing all these people successfully get backdated even after waiting 6+ months is giving me the push I finally needed. The claimyr service seems to be the real game changer here - so many success stories from people who used it. $20 is definitely worth avoiding the phone nightmare everyone talks about. I ve'been gathering all my documentation this weekend and I think I m'finally ready to take the plunge. Good luck if you end up trying it - hopefully we can both get our situations sorted out! 🤞
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Mei Chen
I'm in almost the exact same situation - lost my job back in April and have been dragging my feet on filing because I thought something would come through quickly. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! Reading all these success stories about people getting backdated even after waiting 6+ months is giving me the confidence I needed to finally take action. The claimyr service keeps coming up and honestly after seeing so many positive experiences, $20 seems like a bargain compared to weeks of calling hell. I've got my termination paperwork ready and a list of everywhere I've applied since April. Really encouraging to see people getting thousands in back pay - that would be life-changing for me right now. Planning to try the claimyr service this week. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences instead of just generic advice!
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