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omg i remember learning about this in high school history! wasnt there also something about the stock market being weird that year too? and didnt world war 2 starting help fix everything eventually??
This sounds exactly like what could happen again today if they mess with unemployment benefits too much. The government always thinks they can just cut spending and everything will be fine but then people lose their jobs and the whole economy crashes. At least now we have better unemployment systems like NYS Department of Labor that can respond faster than they could back in 1938.
This is exactly why the unemployment system is broken! $184 a week in 2025? That's insulting. Meanwhile rent keeps going up and groceries cost a fortune. The whole system needs to be overhauled but good luck getting politicians to actually fix anything. At least you got approved though - some people wait months in adjudication just to get denied.
I remember when this happened to me a few years ago. The unemployment benefits barely covered anything. I ended up having to take a part-time job while collecting benefits, but you have to be careful about reporting those earnings properly or they'll reduce your weekly benefit amount. Also look into local food banks and community assistance programs. It's not ideal but it helps bridge the gap.
Just want to add that even after your claim gets approved, there's usually a one-week waiting period before you actually receive your first payment. So factor that into your timeline as well. The whole process from application to first payment can easily be 3-4 weeks minimum.
The whole system is ridiculous - they make it so confusing that people don't even know they should apply! Then they penalize you for not knowing their arbitrary rules. I waited 3 weeks because I thought I had to have a certain number of hours worked first.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor about backdating issues, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
Chloe Robinson
I had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my base period eligibility. Kept getting busy signals and long hold times. A friend recommended this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Helped me talk to someone who could explain my specific situation within a day instead of waiting weeks.
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Malik Jackson
•Thanks for the tip! I might need that if I run into issues with my application.
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Diego Chavez
Just to add - even if you don't qualify for regular unemployment initially, don't give up. Sometimes you can qualify later if you work a bit more and reapply. The NYS Department of Labor also has other programs that might help in the meantime.
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