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If I could give 10 stars I would
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.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
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!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
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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The unemployment system is such a mess though! FUTA has been around since the 1930s and we're still dealing with outdated systems and impossible phone lines. Sure, it funds the benefits, but what good is that when people can't even get through to NYS Department of Labor to file their weekly claims or resolve adjudication issues? The whole thing needs an overhaul.
True, the technology is definitely behind the times. But at least the funding mechanism works - most people do eventually get their benefits.
FUTA was actually created during the Great Depression as part of the Social Security Act of 1935. It's designed to provide a federal backstop for state unemployment programs - so when states like New York run low on unemployment funds during recessions, the federal government can provide loans. The 6% federal tax rate Theodore mentioned can be reduced to 0.6% if states meet federal requirements, which is why most employers end up paying much less in FUTA than the headline rate suggests. It's really about creating a nationwide safety net that operates through state programs like NYS Department of Labor.
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Wait, I thought if you got fired you couldn't get unemployment? My friend told me only people who get laid off can collect benefits. Now I'm wondering if I missed out when I got fired from my restaurant job six months ago...
That's a really common misconception! You can absolutely get benefits if you're fired, as long as it wasn't for serious misconduct like stealing or violence. Even things like tardiness or poor performance usually qualify you. Your friend was wrong about that - you should have applied!
@Mateo Perez - definitely apply right away! The fact that you were fired right after requesting medical time off is a huge red flag and could actually work in your favor. New York has strong protections for employees who need medical leave. When you file your claim, make sure to mention the timeline - that you requested medical time off and were suddenly fired for "performance issues" with no prior warnings. Document everything you can remember about the situation. Even if they initially deny your claim, you have a strong case for appeal. Don't let them intimidate you out of filing - you've been paying into this system and you deserve these benefits when you need them.
This is really good advice! The timing of your firing right after requesting medical leave definitely sounds suspicious. I'd also suggest keeping records of any texts, emails, or documentation from when you requested the time off. If you have anything in writing that shows you followed proper procedures for requesting medical leave, that could really help your case. The fact that you had no prior write-ups after 8 months makes their "performance issues" claim look pretty weak too.
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FINAL UPDATE: Had my fact-finding interview this morning. It was quick - about 15 minutes. I presented my termination letter which clearly stated "position eliminated due to departmental restructuring" and the interviewer seemed satisfied. My former employer didn't even show up for the call. The interviewer said my claim should be processed within 3 business days and all backdated weeks will be paid at once. Such a relief! Thanks again everyone - if anyone else is dealing with a stuck claim, definitely try to speak with an actual person. The online system just doesn't handle complex situations well.
Great outcome! It's always good to hear when these situations get resolved. This is why documentation is so important - always keep those termination letters and emails. Enjoy your well-deserved benefits!
congrats! the system is so broken its ridiculous... they should make employers who file false disputes pay a penalty!
This is such a great example of why persistence pays off with unemployment claims! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my claim has been pending for 3 weeks and I was starting to panic. Your story gives me hope that there's usually a specific issue that can be resolved once you get through to the right person. I'm definitely going to try that Claimyr service you mentioned since calling directly hasn't worked for me either. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to, but at least there are solutions out there. Congrats on getting it sorted out!
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UPDATE: I managed to get through to someone on the phone today! Had to try Claimyr like someone suggested above, and it worked. The agent confirmed my license + health insurance card is enough for verification. She also explained that the system message about "all of the hundred" was actually referring to my weekly benefit amount being approved (it's $865). The payment is pending until identity verification completes, which should be in the next 3-5 business days. Such a relief to finally get answers!
Great news! Glad you got it sorted out. Just make sure you continue certifying each week while waiting for the verification to complete. When they finally approve everything, you should receive all back payments for properly certified weeks in one lump sum.
That's awesome that you got through and got some clarity! For anyone else still struggling with this - I went through the same identity verification nightmare back in December. What finally worked for me was uploading my driver's license AND a recent bank statement (within 30 days) together in one submission. The key is making sure both documents show your full legal name exactly as it appears on your unemployment application. Also, scan or photo the documents in good lighting - blurry images get automatically rejected. The whole process took about 7 business days after I uploaded the right combo of documents. Hang in there everyone, it's frustrating but it does eventually work out!
Shelby Bauman
Just to clarify since there seems to be some confusion - the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) rate that employers pay is 6.0% on the first $7,000 of wages, but they get credits that usually bring it down to 0.6%. That's completely separate from how your benefits are taxed when you receive them. Your UI benefits are taxed as ordinary income at whatever your regular federal tax rate is.
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Raj Gupta
Thanks everyone for the helpful explanations! I'm in a similar boat - received unemployment benefits last year and didn't realize I should have set up withholding. For anyone else reading this, I found that the NYS Department of Labor website has a tax withholding calculator that can help estimate how much you might owe. Also, if you can't afford to pay the full amount at once, the IRS does offer payment plans. Definitely learned my lesson for this year - already set up the 10% federal withholding on my current claims.
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