Wait, I thought FUTA was something we paid as employees? I've been so confused about all these unemployment taxes. My adjudication has been going on for a month and nobody at NYS Department of Labor will explain anything to me!

The whole unemployment tax system is such a mess. Employers are supposed to pay FUTA but half of them don't even understand their obligations. Then when workers need benefits, we're the ones who suffer from their incompetence.

So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when my neighbor told me about Claimyr. It's this service where they wait on hold for you and then call you when they get an actual human. It was the only thing that worked after weeks of trying. claimyr.com saved my sanity and got my claim fixed.

I've been dealing with this nightmare too! After reading all these comments about Claimyr, I'm definitely going to try it. Seems like multiple people here have had success with it. @Mateo - definitely try calling at exactly 8am like @Zoe suggested first, but if that doesn't work, the Claimyr thing seems legit based on all these testimonials. The fact that so many different people are vouching for it makes me think it's not a scam. Good luck with your claim!

Have you considered talking to your manager first about the issues? Sometimes they don't realize how their actions are affecting employees. Plus if you document that conversation and they refuse to address the problems, that could help your case if you do decide to quit and file for unemployment.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing is that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you had "good cause" to quit - and from what you're describing (major hour cuts, constant schedule changes without notice, hostile supervisor) you might actually have a case. The reduction from 35 to 15 hours alone could be considered constructive dismissal if it's a significant change from your original job terms. Start documenting everything NOW - take screenshots of your schedule, write down specific incidents with dates/times, and if possible get any communications in writing. When you apply, you'll need to clearly explain that you had no choice but to quit due to these unreasonable working conditions. Don't just say you quit because of a "toxic environment" - be specific about how the conditions made it impossible for you to continue working there.

Wait are you sure your employer is actually fighting it? Sometimes NYS Department of Labor schedules hearings just to clarify information even when there's no real dispute. Check your hearing notice carefully to see what specific issues they're addressing.

I went through this exact situation last year. My advice is to first request a copy of your employer's response/protest from NYS Department of Labor - you have the right to see what they submitted. This will help you understand their arguments and prepare your defense. If it's a straightforward case (like they're claiming you quit when you were actually laid off), you might be fine representing yourself. But if they're alleging misconduct or have detailed documentation, a lawyer could be worth it. Also consider that if you lose the hearing, you'll likely have to pay back any benefits you've already received, so factor that risk into your decision.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The 24-hour lockout is usually accurate, but here's what I learned: if you can't wait that long, try using the "Forgot Password" option instead of calling tech support. Sometimes resetting your password will unlock the account immediately. Also, make sure you're using the correct login page - I was accidentally trying to log into the wrong portal which kept giving me errors. The correct one is my.ny.gov, then navigate to unemployment services from there. Hope this helps and you get it sorted before your certification deadline!

I actually work for a company that helps people navigate these government systems, and I can confirm that the 24-hour lockout is standard for failed login attempts on my.ny.gov. However, I'd recommend trying the password reset option first before waiting the full 24 hours - it often bypasses the lockout immediately. If that doesn't work and you can't get through to tech support, you might also try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then using a different browser entirely. Sometimes the lockout is tied to your browser session rather than just your account. Also, pro tip: when you do get back in, write down your login info somewhere secure so this doesn't happen again during a stressful week!