


Ask the community...
The system is so confusing! I thought it was based on your last job's pay but apparently it's this whole complicated formula. Why can't they just make it simple??
One more tip - if you're close to the end of a quarter when you become unemployed, it might be worth waiting a few days to file if it means your base period will include higher wages from a more recent quarter. But generally, file as soon as you're unemployed since you can't get benefits for weeks before you file.
The system is so messed up that people have to think about stuff like this just to survive. Your boss sounds awful and you shouldn't have to put up with that treatment just to keep a paycheck.
One more thing - if you do end up getting terminated, make sure you file your unemployment claim immediately and be completely honest about the circumstances. NYS Department of Labor will contact your employer anyway, so any lies will just hurt your case. Document everything that's happening at work now in case you need it later for your claim or a potential appeal.
I'm in the same boat with highest unemployment in my area and getting anxious about when my claim will be approved. What if they're prioritizing other regions? What if there's not enough funding allocated to areas like ours? Should I be doing something else while I wait?
The whole system is overwhelmed everywhere regardless of local unemployment rates! I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and it's the same story - delays, busy phone lines, unclear status updates. Areas with highest unemployment probably just have more people calling the same overloaded system.
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get a definitive answer about your specific situation, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It was really helpful when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines to ask about my eligibility questions.
Lena Müller
Whatever you do, make sure you answer all the questions honestly about why you lost your job. If there's any discrepancy between what you say and what your employer reports, your claim could go into adjudication which can delay everything for weeks. I learned this the hard way!
0 coins
TechNinja
Also make sure you're actively looking for work and keeping track of your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor requires you to search for work and they might ask for documentation of your job search efforts.
0 coins
Tyrone Johnson
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I want to make sure I meet the requirements.
0 coins
Ingrid Larsson
•The requirement is that you make a reasonable effort to find work. Keep records of where you apply, when, and any responses you get. There's no specific number but 3-4 applications per week is generally considered adequate.
0 coins