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The whole system is basically employers subsidizing their former workers. Which is fine in theory but the rates and regulations keep getting more complicated every year. Some small businesses struggle with the administrative burden of tracking all the NYS Department of Labor requirements.
This whole situation is so frustrating!! The economy is clearly in bad shape but they're not doing anything to help people who can't find work. I've applied to over 200 jobs and gotten maybe 5 interviews. How are we supposed to survive on just 26 weeks when there are NO JOBS out there?
Keep in mind that even during recessions, you still need to meet all the regular requirements - filing weekly claims, documenting job searches, being available for work. The economic conditions don't change those basic UI rules. Make sure you're staying compliant while waiting to see if any extensions become available.
UGH the whole system is so confusing!! I've been trying to call the NYS Department of Labor for weeks because my claim got stuck in adjudication and I can't get through to anyone. The automated system just hangs up on you after waiting on hold forever. This is so frustrating when you need help paying bills!
I had the same problem with getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone. Someone on here told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you reach agents. I was skeptical but tried it and actually got through to someone the same day. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you're stuck.
The whole system is rigged to make the numbers look better than reality!! They change the formulas every few years and don't count people who want to work but gave up. My brother's been out of work for a year and he's not in their precious statistics anymore.
Miguel Diaz
The whole system is ridiculous. I made $65K last year and only get $387 a week. Meanwhile my rent alone is $1,800 a month. How are we supposed to survive on these amounts while looking for work?
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Zainab Ahmed
•I feel you. The benefits barely cover basic expenses, especially in NYC area.
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Sofia Torres
For anyone still confused about the calculation: NYS Department of Labor looks at your four highest quarters of earnings in your base period, adds them up to see if you qualify, then uses ONLY your single highest quarter to calculate the weekly amount. So if your highest quarter was $13,000, you'd get roughly $250 per week (13,000 ÷ 26 ÷ 2). The exact formula has some variations but that's the basic idea.
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