
New York Unemployment
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Ask the community...
I might need to file for unemployment soon and I'm honestly clueless about the whole process. What actually happens when you apply for unemployment through NYS Department of Labor? Like do they contact your employer right away? How long does it take to get approved? Do you have to prove you're looking for work immediately? I've never been unemployed before and I'm kind of freaking out about the whole thing. Any advice would be really helpful.
I'm trying to understand what unemployment benefits are actually based on. I know you have to lose your job through no fault of your own, but I'm confused about how they calculate the amount you get and what other requirements there are. I worked part-time for the last two years at different jobs and I'm not sure if I even qualify. Can someone explain what NYS Department of Labor looks at when determining if you're eligible and how much you'll receive? I've been reading their website but it's really confusing with all the technical terms.
Also keep in mind that if you worked in multiple states, things get more complicated. NYS Department of Labor will coordinate with other states through interstate claims, but it can delay processing. And if you're on standby status (temporary layoff expecting to return), the rules are slightly different - you don't have to do job searches but you do have to remain available.
The whole system is so confusing! I wish they would just tell you upfront if you qualify instead of making you jump through hoops. At least once you're approved the weekly claims are pretty straightforward.
I just started receiving unemployment benefits and I'm confused about the tax situation. When I look at my payment stub on my.ny.gov, it shows the full benefit amount but I'm wondering if taxes are automatically taken out or if I need to handle that myself? I don't want to get hit with a huge tax bill next year. Can someone explain how this works with NYS Department of Labor payments?
I've been trying to update my tax withholding for weeks but the my.ny.gov website keeps timing out when I try to access payment preferences. Has anyone else had this issue? I really don't want to deal with calling NYS Department of Labor because the wait times are insane.
I had luck using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent who helped me update my withholding over the phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Way easier than sitting on hold for hours.
Wait, so if I'm getting $400 a week and I elect for tax withholding, they'll take out $40 each week? That seems like a lot when you're already struggling financially.
I'm trying to help my sister figure out if she can get unemployment benefits but honestly I'm confused about all the requirements. She worked at a restaurant for about 8 months before they let her go last week because business was slow. She made around $400 a week when she was working full time. Does anyone know what the basic qualifications are for NYS Department of Labor unemployment? Like how long do you have to work and how much do you need to earn? I've heard different things from different people and want to make sure she doesn't waste time applying if she won't qualify.
Make sure she applies as soon as possible! There's a waiting week but benefits are only paid from the week you actually file, not from when she lost her job. Also she can't have quit voluntarily or been fired for misconduct - sounds like neither applies to her situation since it was a layoff.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to reduce unemployment claim problems with NYS Department of Labor. My weekly claims keep getting flagged and I'm dealing with constant adjudication delays. I've been unemployed for 6 weeks now and every week there's some new issue with my certification. Has anyone found effective ways to reduce these ongoing problems with their UI claims? I'm getting desperate here because my savings are running out.
Make sure you're not working ANY hours during weeks you claim benefits, even if it's just a few hours of freelance work. That's what caused my adjudication nightmare last year. NYS Department of Labor flagged every week where I had even minimal earnings and it took forever to sort out.
Ava Hernandez
The job search thing is no joke - you need to keep detailed records of every application, networking contact, job fair etc. NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log at any time and if you don't have proper documentation they can disqualify you and make you pay back benefits. I learned this the hard way.
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Isabella Martin
omg yes this! I got audited and almost lost my benefits because I wasn't keeping good records
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Elijah Jackson
The WHOLE SYSTEM is designed to make you jump through hoops and deny you benefits! They'll find ANY excuse to delay or deny your claim. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for months over a simple separation issue. They make it so complicated on purpose to discourage people from applying. Just be prepared for frustration and bureaucratic nonsense.
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Faith Kingston
AuthorThat's really discouraging to hear. I was hoping it would be more straightforward than that.
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Emma Johnson
While the system can be frustrating, most straightforward claims do get processed without major issues. Don't let horror stories scare you from applying if you're eligible.
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