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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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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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 tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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Just wanted to add my recent experience to help others who are waiting! I applied 4 weeks ago and got approved yesterday - right in that typical timeline everyone's been mentioning. A few things that I think really helped: - Never missed a weekly certification (seriously, this seems to be the most important thing based on everyone's experiences here) - Did the id.me verification immediately when I got the email notification - Checked my portal messages every few days for any document requests - Uploaded crystal clear photos of all my W2s and employment documents The waiting was absolutely nerve-wracking and I was ready to try claimyr.com if I hit week 5, but thankfully didn't need to. Just got my first backpay deposit this morning! For anyone currently waiting - this thread has been SO helpful for managing expectations. The 2-3 weeks on the website is definitely not realistic, but 3-6 weeks seems to be the actual timeframe. Stay patient and keep doing those weekly certs! You've got this! 💪
Congrats on getting approved! 🎉 This is so encouraging to hear - I'm on week 2 right now and was starting to get anxious, but your timeline and experience gives me hope. Really appreciate you confirming that the weekly certifications are crucial - I've been staying on top of those after reading everyone's advice here. It's also good to know the backpay came through so quickly after approval! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and add to this incredibly helpful thread. Definitely saving the claimyr info just in case, but hopefully I'll be in your shoes in a couple weeks! 🤞
I'm currently on week 3 of waiting and this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! 🙏 When I first applied, I was expecting that 2-3 week timeline from the website, but clearly that's not realistic at all. Seeing everyone's actual experiences (3-6 weeks seems to be the norm) has really helped manage my expectations and anxiety levels. I've been religiously doing my weekly certifications after reading all the advice here - sounds like that's the most critical thing you can do while waiting. Also completed my id.me verification last week following the tips about good lighting and clear photos. Planning to give it another week before considering the claimyr.com service that so many people have recommended. It's reassuring to know there's that option if I need it around week 4-5. This community has been such a lifesaver during this stressful waiting period. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences and timelines - it makes this whole process so much more manageable when you know what to actually expect! I'll definitely update when I hear back about my approval 🤞
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UPDATE: I got through this morning! Called right at 8:00am and followed the sequence that was suggested (press 2, then 2 again, then 3). Had to wait about 30 minutes but finally spoke to someone who confirmed they'll mail my 1099-G. Should arrive in 7-10 days which is cutting it close for my tax appointment but better than nothing. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great news! Glad you got it sorted out. For your tax appointment, if the form hasn't arrived yet, you can let your preparer know it's on the way. They might be able to estimate that amount for now and amend later if needed, or possibly reschedule to make sure everything is accurate the first time.
Congrats on getting through! That's such a relief when you've been stuck for days. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this thread - if your 1099-G doesn't arrive in time for your tax appointment, ask your preparer about filing an extension. You can request an automatic 6-month extension using Form 4868, which gives you until October 15th to file. You'll still need to pay any taxes owed by the original deadline, but it takes the pressure off if you're missing important documents. Most tax preparers are familiar with this situation during peak season.
That's really helpful to know about the extension option! I didn't realize you could do that. Hopefully my form arrives on time, but it's good to have a backup plan. This whole process has been so stressful - I never thought getting a tax form would be this complicated!
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This entire thread has been such a godsend! I'm in almost the exact same situation - filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and have been losing sleep over whether I might have mixed up some employment dates during a period where I had overlapping jobs. The collective wisdom here is incredible. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice is: be proactive, have your documents ready, and don't let the anxiety spiral out of control. The professional perspective from Mia about 30-40% of claims having minor errors was especially eye-opening - it really drives home that we're not alone in this! I'm planning to call tomorrow morning with all my employment records organized. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this community support makes dealing with government bureaucracy so much less intimidating!
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! Your situation with overlapping jobs and potentially mixed up employment dates sounds really stressful, but based on everyone's experiences here, it's exactly the kind of honest mistake that the DOL deals with regularly. The overlapping employment periods can be especially confusing to navigate on the application when you're already stressed about the whole process. It sounds like you have a great plan calling tomorrow morning with all your records organized - that preparation is going to make such a difference in how smoothly the conversation goes. The community support in this thread really has been amazing, and it's so much better than trying to figure this stuff out alone. Good luck with your call tomorrow - I'm sure it's going to go much better than you expect!
I'm a newcomer to this community but had to jump in after reading through all these incredibly helpful responses! I filed my unemployment claim with NYS DOL just last week and have been absolutely terrified that I might have made mistakes - specifically worried about whether I correctly reported the reason for my job separation (it was a layoff but the wording on the application was confusing). Reading everyone's experiences here has been such a relief! The consistent message that these mistakes are common, fixable, and that being proactive is the right approach is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm especially grateful for all the practical tips like calling mid-morning, having documents organized beforehand, and asking for email confirmation of corrections. The professional insight about 30-40% of claims having minor errors really put things in perspective for me. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to discuss these anxiety-inducing situations - it makes dealing with government processes feel much less overwhelming when you know others have been through the same thing successfully!
Welcome to the community, Carmen! Your concern about the job separation reason is so understandable - that section of the application can be really confusing, especially when you're already stressed about the whole process. The wording they use for different separation types isn't always intuitive. Since you mentioned it was a layoff, that's typically one of the more straightforward qualifying reasons, so even if there was some confusion in how you described it, it shouldn't be a major issue. The fact that you're being thoughtful about potential mistakes shows you're approaching this the right way. Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, if you do decide to call for clarification, having any documentation about your layoff (like a termination letter or email from HR) ready would probably be helpful. But honestly, layoffs are pretty clear-cut situations that the DOL handles all the time. Try not to stress too much about it - you've got this!
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@Sofia Torres Just wanted to add one more option that saved me when I was in a similar situation in Rochester! Family Dollar stores also do cash back (usually up to $50) with no fees, and they're everywhere in western NY. Also, if you have a car and don't mind a short drive, many of the Seneca Nation gas stations have fee-free ATMs that work with government cards - there's one in Irving that's been super reliable for me. One last tip that took me forever to figure out - you can actually use your Way2Go card to pay bills online through their website, which can help you avoid needing as much physical cash. You can pay utilities, phone bills, etc. directly from the card balance. The interface isn't the prettiest but it works and saves trips to the ATM. Hope your transition back to western NY goes smoothly! 👍
@Oliver Becker This is super helpful info! I had no idea you could pay bills directly through the Way2Go website - that s'actually genius and would definitely reduce how much cash I need to pull out. The Family Dollar tip is great too since I ve'seen several of those around. Quick question about the Seneca Nation gas station ATMs - do you know if there are any other locations besides Irving? I m'staying closer to Buffalo so wondering if there are options that might be a bit closer. Thanks for all the practical advice, this whole thread has been a lifesaver for navigating this system! 🙏
@Oliver Becker @Zoe Christodoulou There s also'a Seneca Nation location in Salamanca that has fee-free ATMs, and I think there s one'at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino too if you re closer'to the city. The bill pay feature through Way2Go is definitely underrated - I use it for my phone and electric bills all the time. Just make sure to allow extra time since sometimes the payments take 2-3 business days to process, but it beats dealing with ATM fees when you just need to pay bills!
@Sofia Torres I feel you on this struggle! When I first got my Way2Go card after moving to the Rochester area, I was getting hit with fees left and right. Here's what's been working for me: **Free ATM spots I've found:** - CVS and Walgreens usually have AllPoint ATMs inside (no fees) - Tops Markets locations often have fee-free ATMs - Try smaller local credit unions - many don't charge for government benefit cards **Smart cash strategies:** - Do cash back when grocery shopping at Wegmans/Tops (up to $100 usually) - Gas stations like Kwik Fill sometimes offer cash back with purchases - You can do multiple cash back transactions per day at different stores to get around daily limits **Pro tip:** Create an account on the Way2Go website and you can transfer money directly to your bank account for free (takes 2-3 days but no fees). Way better than constantly hunting for ATMs. The whole system is honestly designed to be confusing, but once you find your regular spots it gets much easier. Welcome back to western NY and good luck with everything! The job market here has been picking up lately so hopefully things work out for you 🤞
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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Jamal Brown
I'm facing the same situation with my first unemployment claim notice and this thread has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed yet - when submitting the response through the online portal, is there a way to track the status after you submit everything? I want to make sure NYS DOL has received and processed my documentation properly. Also, if they need additional information after reviewing my initial response, how do they typically reach out - through the portal, mail, or phone? I'm trying to stay on top of this since I know timing is critical for these cases.
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Oliver Brown
•Great question about tracking! Yes, the NYS DOL employer portal usually shows a status update within 24-48 hours after you submit your response - look for a "Submitted" or "Under Review" status next to the claim number. You'll also get an email confirmation to the address associated with your employer account. If they need additional info, they typically send follow-up notices through both the portal and regular mail, though sometimes they'll call if it's urgent. I'd recommend checking the portal every few days for the first couple weeks after submitting. Also, make sure your contact information is current in their system so you don't miss any communications!
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