The U6 thing reminded me of when I was on unemployment during the 2008 recession - they had all these extended programs available because the broader unemployment measures were so high. But that was federal programs, not sure what NYS Department of Labor offers now for state extended benefits. My cousin in Buffalo was on unemployment for almost a year back then with all the extensions.

I'm new to collecting unemployment and this U6 discussion is really eye-opening. I didn't realize there were different ways to measure unemployment beyond what I see in the news. My question is - where can I actually find the current U6 rate for New York to get a sense of how the broader job market is doing? And does NYS Department of Labor publish any guidance about how labor market conditions might affect things like job search requirements or benefit extensions? I want to understand what I might be facing as I continue my job search.

The document request time is crazy right now. My friend who works at NYSDOL says they're understaffed in that department and prioritizing current claims. She recommended going through claimyr.com to get someone on the phone cuz its actually faster than waiting for document requests to be processed.

I went through something similar last year when I needed proof of a 2018 denial for a student loan deferment. Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of frustration: Try calling the Telephone Claims Center at 888-209-8124 right at 8:00 AM sharp on a Tuesday or Wednesday - those seem to be the best days to get through. When you do reach someone, ask specifically for a "monetary determination notice" or "benefit determination letter" from November 2019. If that doesn't work, you can also try submitting a written request by mail to: NYS Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Division Building 12, Room 266 State Office Campus Albany, NY 12240 Include your full name, SSN, the approximate dates of your claim, and exactly what document you need. Make sure to mention it's for housing assistance - sometimes that helps prioritize the request. The key is being super specific about what you need and when. Don't give up! I know how stressful it is when housing opportunities are on the line. You've got this! 💪

One more important thing to remember: after you complete the full application and get approved, you still need to certify weekly to receive benefits. Many people miss this step and wonder why they aren't getting paid. Set a reminder on your phone for the same day each week to log in and certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - ID verification is definitely just the first step! I made the same mistake last year and sat around waiting for benefits after only doing the ID part. You'll need to go back to your NY.gov account and complete the full application with all your employment details. Pro tip: have your Social Security card, driver's license, and last few paystubs ready before you start the main application - it makes the process much smoother. The whole thing took me about an hour to complete properly. Good luck!

Just make sure you're staying current on those payments! I've seen small businesses get behind on payroll taxes and it becomes a nightmare with penalties and interest. The IRS and NYS Department of Labor don't mess around with late payments.

As someone who's been through several NYS Department of Labor audits, I'd also recommend keeping detailed records of when you accrue vs when you pay these taxes. The timing differences can get tricky during audits - they want to see that you're properly matching the liability recognition with the actual payroll periods. Setting up a simple spreadsheet alongside your accounting entries can save you headaches later if questions come up about your unemployment tax compliance.

Just to add - your rate also depends on your NAICS code (industry classification). Construction and seasonal businesses tend to have higher base rates than office-based businesses. Make sure your payroll company has the right industry code for your business because that affects your starting rate calculation.

The 4.1% rate your payroll company quoted sounds correct for a newer employer. New York uses what's called a "standard rate" for businesses that haven't been operating long enough to establish an experience rating. After about 3-4 years of paying into the system with no claims, you should see that rate drop significantly - I've seen rates go as low as 0.3% for businesses with clean records. Just make sure your payroll company updates your rate when you get your annual notice from NYS DOL, because some don't automatically adjust it and you could end up overpaying.