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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
same boat as you - just got laid off last week from my restaurant job. was planning to file this weekend. good to know about filing online, i was dreading having to call
Most important thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still pending! I made that mistake and it delayed my benefits by weeks. Also start your job search right away and keep a log because they'll ask about it during your weekly certifications.
I had a really hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact situation. Kept getting transferred around and nobody seemed to know the rules. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent who could explain how the able and available requirement works with medical restrictions. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to call myself.
this whole system is so confusing for students!! why dont they make it clearer what the requirements are before you waste time filing
Dylan Campbell
Just to add - if you're getting regular UI benefits, you can have federal and state taxes withheld. But if you're on any other programs like standby or partial benefits, the withholding options might be different. Best to check with an agent to make sure you're set up correctly.
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Sofia Hernandez
The whole system is designed to screw people over. They make it seem like free money but then hit you with a huge tax bill later. I wish they would just automatically withhold taxes instead of making it optional
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
•totally agree! its like they want people to get surprised by owing thousands
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