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I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about my claim status. The phone lines are always busy and I kept getting disconnected. A friend recommended trying claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Ended up being really helpful for getting my questions answered about wage calculations.
Just to add - even if your employer goes out of business or stops paying their unemployment taxes, you're still covered. The state has systems in place to handle those situations. Your benefits come from the unemployment insurance fund that all employers pay into, not from your specific employer's account.
You need to be super careful about this. If NYS Department of Labor determines you quit without good cause, you'll be disqualified from benefits entirely. Even if you think you have good cause, they might disagree during the adjudication process. Document everything - your normal hours, the reduced hours, any emails or conversations about scheduling, financial impact, etc.
honestly the unemployment system is so messed up right now i wouldn't count on getting benefits either way... my friend quit for good cause and still had to appeal and wait months for her money
I had this same worry when I was job hunting last year after my layoff. Called the NYS Department of Labor helpline but couldn't get through after waiting forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent who confirmed unemployment isn't what they mean by government assistance on those forms. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me a lot of stress about the whole background check thing.
Vanessa Chang
Make sure you have your bank account info ready too for direct deposit setup. Also heads up - after you file your initial claim you'll need to do job search activities and report them when you file your weekly claims. NYS Department of Labor requires you to look for work unless you're on standby status.
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Connor Murphy
•How many jobs do I need to apply to each week? And what counts as job search activities?
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Madison King
Job search requirements are 3 work search activities per week unless you're in a union with a hiring hall or have return-to-work date within 10 weeks. Activities include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or taking training courses. Keep detailed records of everything you do.
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