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File ASAP! The longer you wait the more money you lose. I made the mistake of waiting two weeks because I thought I wouldn't qualify and that was two weeks of benefits I'll never get back. NYS Department of Labor benefits are retroactive only to when you file your claim, not when you became unemployed.
UGH the unemployment system is so confusing! Why don't they just have clear guidelines about this stuff? I've been going back and forth about filing for weeks because I can't figure out if getting fired for missing work means I'm disqualified or not. This whole thing is giving me anxiety.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions or need help with your application, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me connect with an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call and getting busy signals.
Just wanted to say I understand how difficult this situation must be for you. Toxic work environments can really affect your mental health. Whatever you decide, make sure you're taking care of yourself too.
Before you quit, document EVERYTHING. Keep emails, take photos if there are safety issues, get witness statements if possible. Also check if your company has an HR department or employee assistance program you haven't tried yet. Sometimes exhausting internal remedies first strengthens your case for good cause if you do end up quitting.
Maybe look into getting a secured credit card? You put down a deposit and that becomes your credit limit. Not ideal but might be better than predatory loans
This whole system is messed up! You need a car to find work but you can't get money to fix your car because you don't have work. It's like they want to keep people trapped in the unemployment cycle. I went through the same thing and ended up taking a payday loan that took me months to pay off. Such a scam.
Aisha Khan
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I was laid off. Spent hours on hold just trying to ask basic questions about my claim status. If you run into that problem, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's even a demo video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made the whole process way less stressful when I could actually talk to someone.
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Zara Rashid
•Good to know there are options if I can't get through! Hopefully the online application process goes smoothly but it's reassuring to know there's help available if I need it.
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Ethan Taylor
yeah layoffs definitely qualify you, been there myself. just be ready for the weekly certification process once you get approved - you'll need to certify every week that you're looking for work
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