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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What is MEUC unemployment benefit - NYS Department of Labor explanation needed
I keep seeing references to something called MEUC unemployment but I can't find clear information about what this actually is. Is this a special type of claim through NYS Department of Labor? I'm currently on regular UI benefits but wondering if there's something else I should be applying for. My weekly claim certification asks about other income and I want to make sure I'm not missing out on additional benefits I might be eligible for. Can someone explain what MEUC stands for and if it's still available in 2025?
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NYS Department of Labor unemployment claim denied - owned clothing factory but lost everything
I owned a small clothing manufacturing business in Queens for 8 years until everything fell apart last September. Had to close the factory, lost my house, the whole nightmare. Applied for unemployment in October thinking I'd qualify since I paid into the system when I took a salary, but NYS Department of Labor denied my claim saying I was 'self-employed.' I appealed but they upheld the denial. Has anyone else who owned a business been able to get unemployment benefits? I'm at my wit's end here and don't know what other options I have.
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Wait, I thought business owners couldn't get unemployment at all? My cousin owned a restaurant and when it closed during COVID he couldn't get regular unemployment, only got some business assistance stuff.
That's a common misconception. Corporate officers who take W-2 wages and pay unemployment taxes are generally eligible. It's sole proprietors and partners who typically can't collect. The restaurant owner was probably unincorporated or didn't pay SUTA on his own wages.
This gives me hope. I definitely paid all the taxes properly. Going to gather all my records and request that hearing. Thank you for the guidance!
When will I get paid after filing for unemployment with NYS Department of Labor?
I submitted my initial unemployment claim through the NYS Department of Labor website last Tuesday and I'm wondering when I can expect to receive my first payment. My claim status shows as 'under review' but there's no timeline given. I lost my job at a retail store two weeks ago due to store closure and I really need to know when payments start so I can budget accordingly. Does anyone know the typical timeframe from filing to getting your first check? Also do I need to do anything else besides wait?
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The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely useless for getting claim status updates. I spent hours trying to get through just to ask about my payment timeline. If you really need to talk to someone about your claim, I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.
Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get disconnected
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DELAY PAYMENTS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!! They make you jump through hoops and wait weeks just hoping you'll give up and find a job before they have to pay out. I've been waiting 5 weeks for my appeal decision and still nothing.
I feel you on the frustration but for a straightforward store closure case like OP's it should go smoothly
NYS Department of Labor denied my unemployment claim - what should I do next?
Got a letter yesterday saying my unemployment claim was denied. I was let go from my retail job in December after working there for almost 2 years. The denial letter mentions something about 'voluntary separation' but I definitely didn't quit - my manager told me they were cutting hours and had to let people go. I'm really confused about what this means and what I should do next. Has anyone dealt with getting their NYS Department of Labor claim denied before? I really need these benefits to pay rent.
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The whole system is rigged against workers!!! They deny people left and right hoping you'll just give up and not appeal. I've seen so many people get wrongfully denied and then have to fight for months to get what they deserved in the first place. Document EVERYTHING and don't let them intimidate you!
How low is unemployment right now in NY - still worth filing weekly claims?
I keep hearing about how low unemployment rates are right now but I'm still struggling to find work after being laid off 6 weeks ago. Filed my initial claim with NYS Department of Labor and been doing my weekly certifications but starting to wonder if I should just focus on job hunting instead of dealing with all the requirements. Are people actually finding jobs quickly in this market or is the low unemployment rate just misleading? My benefits are only $420/week which barely covers rent.
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I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact question last month. Kept getting busy signals and their callback system never worked. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person in like 10 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent explained that I should keep filing regardless of unemployment rates since my job search could take months.
Interesting, never heard of that service. Might be worth trying since I can never get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor either.
Chloe Martin
I remember MEUC! It was so confusing back then because you had to apply separately even if you were already getting regular unemployment. The whole thing was a mess honestly, probably good it's gone. NYS Department of Labor couldn't handle all the different programs at once.
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Diego Rojas
Tell me about it, I never did figure out if I was supposed to get it or not, just gave up trying to navigate all those different applications
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Anastasia Sokolov
Just focus on your regular UI claim and report any earnings properly. The pandemic programs caused more confusion than they were worth for most people anyway.
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