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Don't assume anything!! The unemployment system is designed to deny people. I worked for 2 years and they still found some excuse to delay my benefits for months. Make sure you have ALL your paperwork ready and document everything. Save screenshots of everything you submit because they WILL lose your information.
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! how can unemployment go UP when more people have jobs?? makes no sense to me but then again nothing about dealing with government agencies ever does
Just went through this with my unemployment claim. When I called NYS Department of Labor to ask about job search requirements, they mentioned that periods like this actually mean they're more strict about the work search documentation since opportunities exist. If you need to reach them for questions, I had luck using claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual agents instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
Wait I'm confused about this too. My balance went down but I didn't get paid last week because of some adjudication issue. Does the balance still decrease even if you don't actually receive the money?
No, your claim balance should only decrease when benefits are actually paid out. If you're in adjudication, the balance stays the same until the issue is resolved. If you end up getting those benefits later, then the balance will decrease retroactively.
I had something similar happen and couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to check on my adjudication status. Finally used claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who explained everything. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of stress trying to figure out what was happening with my claim balance.
The financial stress definitely compounds the emotional effects. Even with UI benefits, most people take a significant income cut. This creates a cycle where money worries make it harder to present confidently in interviews, which prolongs the unemployment period. If you're struggling with the reduced income, look into other assistance programs - food assistance, utility help, etc. Don't let pride prevent you from accessing resources that can reduce the financial pressure and help you focus on your job search.
honestly unemployment saved my sanity lol. was working 70 hour weeks at a toxic job and getting laid off was the best thing that happened. used my NYS Department of Labor time to completely switch careers. sometimes unemployment is exactly what you need even if it doesnt feel like it at the time
Annabel Kimball
Just went through this whole process and it's such a hassle to get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions. I couldn't reach anyone for weeks using their regular phone number. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who explained my eligibility. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful than trying to figure it out on my own.
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Chris Elmeda
•how much did that cost? seems like something they should help with for free
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Annabel Kimball
•It was worth it for me because I wasted so much time trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind knowing I was eligible was huge.
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Jean Claude
I remember being so confused about this too when I first applied. The base period thing is confusing but basically if you worked consistently for 8 months you should be fine. Just make sure you have your pay stubs or W2s ready when you apply because they might ask for proof of your wages.
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