I had the same issue when I first filed! The calculation seemed wrong but it turned out one of my previous jobs hadn't reported my wages correctly to NYS Department of Labor. I had to get my old pay stubs and contact them to get it fixed. Took about 3 weeks but they did adjust my weekly amount upward. If you think there's an error, definitely appeal or at least call to ask about it.

The whole system is a joke honestly. They use this ancient formula that doesn't reflect what people actually need to live on. $184 a week? That's nothing in NY! And good luck getting anyone to explain it properly or fix errors.

Actually had a similar situation when I got laid off from my bartending job - the seasonal nature of restaurant work really messes with the base period calculations. Ended up getting it recalculated and my weekly went up by like $80. Definitely worth asking about if your recent earnings were higher.

The base period calculation definitely catches people off guard! I went through this same confusion when I filed last year. One thing that helped me understand it better was looking at my actual quarterly earnings on the NYS Department of Labor website - you can log into your account and see exactly which quarters they used and the amounts. It really shows you why your benefit might be lower than expected if you had a recent pay increase or seasonal work patterns. Also, even though $347 might seem low compared to your recent pay, remember that unemployment benefits aren't taxed the same way as regular wages, so the actual difference in your take-home might not be as dramatic as it first appears.

Hey! I went through this exact same thing a few years ago when I was working as a para. The "reasonable assurance" rule is unfortunately pretty strict - if your contract says you'll be back in September, unemployment usually won't approve benefits even if you're actively job hunting over the summer. BUT here's what helped me survive those lean months: check with your district about substitute positions during summer school (even if it's just a few days here and there), look into local recreation departments for camp counselor positions (they love hiring school staff!), and consider signing up with substitute teacher agencies that also place paras - sometimes they have summer gigs. Also, don't forget about things like VBS programs at churches, they often need classroom helpers for their summer programs. The summer struggle is real but there are options out there! Hang in there! 🌟

Just wanted to add another suggestion that helped me last summer - check with your local community colleges! They often run summer bridge programs or remedial courses and need instructional assistants. The pay is usually decent and they really value people with para experience. Also, many summer camps for kids with special needs are always looking for qualified staff - organizations like Easter Seals or Arc often have summer programs and specifically seek out people with your background. Don't forget about head start programs too - some run year-round or have summer components. It's tough being in limbo but your skills are definitely needed somewhere! Keep pushing through! 💪

same thing happened to my cousin last year and she got approved no problem. just took forever because of all the adjudication backlog

I went through something similar about 6 months ago - got let go for "not meeting performance standards" even though I was genuinely trying my best. The whole process felt really unfair since they never gave me proper feedback or a chance to improve. I filed for unemployment benefits right away and got approved after about 4 weeks of waiting. NYS Department of Labor really does look at whether you were willfully doing something wrong versus just struggling with the job requirements. In my case, they determined it wasn't misconduct since I was following all the rules and putting in effort. My advice is to file immediately and be honest about the circumstances - don't let them scare you out of applying for benefits you're entitled to. The worst case is they deny it and you can appeal, but performance issues alone usually don't disqualify you.

I was confused about this too when I first started collecting! Your neighbor might be thinking of the old system or maybe confusing it with other states. New York really did streamline everything online which is actually pretty convenient once you get used to it. Just make sure to keep logging into your my.ny.gov account regularly and don't miss your weekly certifications - that's the most important part of staying current with your benefits.

I had the exact same confusion when I started my claim! My aunt kept asking about my "unemployment card" and I thought I was missing some important document. Turns out she was remembering the old paper system from like 20+ years ago. The online system through my.ny.gov is actually much more convenient - you can check your payment history, update your info, and file weekly claims all in one place. Just make sure you're logging in from the official NYS Department of Labor website to avoid any phishing scams.