New York Unemployment
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Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the NYDOL
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the NYDOL drops your call
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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Will you get unemployment benefits if you get fired from your job in New York?
I might be getting fired from my retail job next week and I'm freaking out about whether I'll qualify for unemployment benefits. My manager has been writing me up for small things and I think they're building a case to terminate me. If I get fired will NYS Department of Labor approve my claim or do they automatically deny people who got fired? I really need the income while I look for another job but I don't want to waste time filing if fired employees can't get benefits.
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How to reopen unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor - my benefits expired last year
My unemployment benefits ran out in September 2024 and I found temp work for a few months but that ended last week. Now I need to file again but I'm not sure if I should start a completely new claim or if there's a way to reopen my old one? I still have my login for my.ny.gov but when I go to the NYS Department of Labor section it just shows my old claim as 'exhausted'. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? I'm worried about messing something up if I file incorrectly.
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ugh the whole system is so confusing. why can't they just make it simple to reopen a claim instead of making you start over from scratch every time
I know it seems annoying but it actually makes sense from a benefits perspective. Starting fresh means they recalculate your weekly amount based on recent earnings instead of old wages from 2023.
How long after filing unemployment does it take to get approved by NYS Department of Labor?
Filed my initial unemployment claim last Tuesday and I'm getting anxious about when I'll hear back. My employer terminated me for what they called 'performance issues' but I think it was really because I asked for accommodations for my disability. Anyway, I submitted everything through the my.ny.gov portal and got a confirmation number but haven't heard anything since then. How long after filing unemployment does it take to get a decision from NYS Department of Labor? I'm really stressed about paying my rent next month.
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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been waiting 6 WEEKS for my adjudication and they keep saying 'we're reviewing your case.' Meanwhile I'm about to lose my apartment. NYS Department of Labor acts like they're doing us a favor when WE PAID INTO THIS SYSTEM through our paychecks!
I feel you. The stress is unreal when you're waiting and have bills piling up.
Just to add - make sure you're filing your weekly claims every Sunday even if your initial claim is still pending. Missing weekly certifications can delay your benefits even after approval. Also keep detailed records of any job search activities since you'll need to meet those requirements once approved.
Who does not qualify for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm trying to help my cousin figure out if she can file for unemployment benefits but I'm getting confused about who actually qualifies. She worked part-time for a restaurant but only for like 3 months before they let her go. She also had another job at a retail store but that was only seasonal work during the holidays. Does NYS Department of Labor have specific rules about who can't get unemployment? I've heard there are certain situations where you're automatically disqualified but I can't find a clear list anywhere. Any help would be appreciated!
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ugh the whole system is so confusing and they make it impossible to get straight answers. I got disqualified initially because they said I didn't work enough quarters but then when I appealed with better documentation they approved me. sometimes it feels like they just deny everyone first to see who fights back
To answer your earlier question about base periods - NYS Department of Labor looks at the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if your cousin files now in 2025, they'd look at her wages from Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. She needs at least $2,600 total in that period AND wages in at least two different quarters. The seasonal retail work might actually help if it was during Q4 2024 and the restaurant work was in a different quarter.
That makes more sense now. I'll help her gather her pay stubs from both jobs to see if she meets those requirements. Thanks for explaining it so clearly!
Who approves unemployment claims at NYS Department of Labor?
I've been waiting on my unemployment claim for almost 2 weeks now and it's still pending. My coworker got approved in 3 days so I'm wondering what's taking so long. Does anyone know who actually approves these claims at NYS Department of Labor? Is it automated or do real people review them? I'm getting worried something is wrong with mine.
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From what I understand, there are different levels of review. Simple claims get auto-approved by the computer system. More complex ones go to claims examiners, and really complicated cases might go to hearing officers. The whole process depends on your specific situation and how busy they are.
Anastasia Kozlov
I had a nightmare trying to reach NYS Department of Labor when my employer contested my claim after being fired. Spent weeks calling and never got through. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connects you directly to unemployment agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Got through to an actual person within hours and got my claim resolved. Way better than sitting on hold forever.
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Sean Kelly
How much does something like that cost though? If you're unemployed money is already tight.
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Anastasia Kozlov
It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was way better than losing weeks of benefits because I couldn't reach anyone to explain my situation.
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Zara Mirza
THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST WORKERS! I got fired for 'performance' which was really just my supervisor not liking me and NYS Department of Labor STILL made me jump through hoops for 6 weeks. They'll side with employers every time unless you have a lawyer. Don't get your hopes up that this will be easy even if you did nothing wrong!!!
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Luca Russo
That sounds terrible but every case is different. Most people I know who got fired for non-misconduct reasons got approved eventually.
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