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
Ask the community...
- 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 :)
What is exhaustee unemployment with NYS Department of Labor - confused about my options
I've been getting regular unemployment benefits for about 20 weeks now and I think I'm getting close to running out. Someone mentioned something called 'exhaustee unemployment' but I have no idea what that means. Is this some kind of extension program through NYS Department of Labor? My claim status still shows active but I'm worried about what happens when my 26 weeks are up. I've been doing my weekly claims and job searches like I'm supposed to but still haven't found anything permanent. Can someone explain what exhaustee unemployment actually is and how it works in New York?
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NYS Department of Labor employer tax rate increases - how can employers keep their unemployment tax rate low?
My small business just got notice that our NYS Department of Labor unemployment tax rate is going up next year and I'm trying to understand what we can do to keep costs down. We've had a few employees file for unemployment over the past two years and I'm wondering if there are specific things employers can do to maintain lower rates with NYS Department of Labor. Are there best practices for managing unemployment claims or ways to challenge questionable claims? Any advice from other business owners dealing with this?
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One thing that really helped us was implementing better hiring practices. Checking references more thoroughly and having a longer probationary period reduced our turnover, which obviously helps with the unemployment claims.
yeah but then you still get stuck when the economy tanks and you have to lay people off through no fault of your own
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get information about contesting claims or understanding your tax rate calculation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of being on hold when I needed to contest a questionable claim last year.
Thanks! The phone system for employers is just as bad as it is for claimants apparently.
Fired from my job - can I still get NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
My manager terminated me yesterday after I missed three days last month when my car broke down and I couldn't get to work. They said it was job abandonment but I called in each time and explained the situation. Now I'm wondering if I can even apply for unemployment benefits since I was fired. Does the NYS Department of Labor consider this misconduct? I really need the income while I look for another job but don't want to waste time applying if I'll just get denied.
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I had such a hard time getting through to the NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check on my claim status after being fired. Spent hours on hold every day for a week. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an agent in like 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Super helpful when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation instead of just guessing from the website.
Wow I had no idea something like that existed! If my claim gets complicated I might need to try that.
is it expensive though? kinda sus that you need a service just to call a government agency
NYS Department of Labor minimum wage increase - worried about unemployment eligibility
My employer just told us they're cutting hours because of the new minimum wage requirements in NY. I'm worried I might get laid off completely or have my hours reduced so much that I'll need to file for unemployment. If they cut my hours below 30 per week due to minimum wage costs, would I be eligible for partial unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor? I work retail and have been there for 8 months. Really stressed about this whole situation and don't know what my options are if they decide to let people go.
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This whole minimum wage thing is such a mess. Companies just cut hours and workers end up worse off than before. At least unemployment benefits exist but it shouldn't have to come to that. NYS Department of Labor should do something about employers who use wage increases as an excuse to slash jobs.
totally agree, my cousin lost her job when they raised it to $15 in her area
Just make sure you keep documentation of your normal work schedule and any notices they give you about hour reductions. NYS Department of Labor will want to verify that the reduction wasn't voluntary. Also, you'll need to be available for work and continue job searching if you're on partial benefits, so keep that job search log updated even if you're still working reduced hours.
Good point about the documentation. Should I ask my manager for something in writing about the hour cuts?
Definitely get it in writing if possible. Even an email or text message explaining the reason for reduced hours can help support your claim.
When can you get unemployment if fired - NYS Department of Labor eligibility rules?
I got terminated from my job last week and I'm trying to figure out if I can even apply for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor. My manager said it was for performance issues but I think it was really because I complained about safety violations. Does anyone know the rules about when you can get unemployment if fired? I heard it depends on the reason but I'm not sure what qualifies. Really stressed about paying rent next month.
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File anyway even if you're not sure! The worst they can say is no and then you can appeal. I thought I wouldn't qualify when I got fired but turned out I was wrong.
UGH the whole system is so frustrating. They fired me for 'attitude problems' which basically meant I asked too many questions about why we weren't following OSHA guidelines. Took FOREVER to get my benefits approved and had to go through an appeal hearing. But I eventually won because my employer couldn't prove actual misconduct.
Did you have to get a lawyer for the hearing or did you represent yourself?
I represented myself but prepared really well. Brought all my emails, documentation of the safety issues, and witness statements from coworkers. The hearing officer was pretty fair about it.
Ashley Simian
The whole system is so frustrating! They make it sound like there are all these safety nets but when you actually need them they're not available. I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact thing but their phone lines are always busy. Has anyone had luck actually talking to someone there recently?
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Oliver Cheng
I had the same problem trying to reach them about my claim status. Someone on here recommended using claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Actually got connected to an agent within a few hours instead of spending days calling. They explained my whole situation and confirmed there aren't any extension programs available right now.
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Ashley Simian
That actually sounds really helpful. I'll check that out because I need to understand all my options before my benefits run out completely.
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Taylor To
just wanted to say i feel you on this - went through the same thing and it's really stressful when you see that week counter getting low. make sure you're documenting all your job searches properly because if anything does open up extension-wise you'll want to have everything in order
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