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 :)
NYS Department of Labor benefits - what is the difference between unemployment and underemployment eligibility?
I'm really confused about something and hoping someone can explain this to me. I keep hearing people talk about unemployment vs underemployment when it comes to NYS Department of Labor benefits. I thought unemployment was just when you don't have a job at all, but my coworker mentioned something about underemployment benefits too? I'm working part-time right now (about 15 hours a week) but I used to work full-time before my hours got cut back in December. Can I still file for some kind of unemployment benefits even though I'm technically still employed? What's the actual difference between these two situations when it comes to what NYS Department of Labor will cover?
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Does a company pay unemployment benefits when you file a claim?
I'm filing for unemployment for the first time and I'm confused about who actually pays the benefits. Does my former employer pay the unemployment money directly to me, or does NYS Department of Labor pay it? My ex-boss made some comment about how my claim is going to cost them money and now I'm wondering if they're the ones who have to pay my weekly benefits. Can someone explain how this works?
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wait so if my company has had a lot of layoffs does that mean they pay more in unemployment taxes?? that seems backwards since they're already struggling financially
Yes, companies with higher claim rates do pay higher unemployment insurance tax rates. It's designed to incentivize employers to maintain stable employment when possible.
How to renew unemployment benefits after my NYS Department of Labor claim expired?
My unemployment benefits ran out about 6 weeks ago and I'm still looking for work. I heard you might be able to renew or restart your claim somehow? I was getting regular UI for about 20 weeks but then it just stopped. My job search has been going nowhere and I really need to figure out if there's a way to get benefits again. Has anyone successfully renewed their unemployment claim with NYS Department of Labor? What's the process like?
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ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i ran out of benefits too and when i called NYS Department of Labor they just kept transferring me around. nobody could give me a straight answer about whether i could apply again or not. spent like 2 hours on hold just to get hung up on
I had the same problem trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor about my expired claim. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent in like 15 minutes. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. The agent was able to look at my work history and tell me exactly what I needed to do to file a new claim.
Just wanted to add that if you do qualify for a new claim, you'll have to go through the whole process again - job search requirements, waiting week, all of it. Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready before you start the application.
Thanks for the heads up! Do I need to report the temp work I did while on my previous claim when I file the new one?
Yes definitely report all work and wages. That's actually what might qualify you for the new claim in the first place.
Do I have to be fired to get unemployment benefits from NYS Department of Labor?
I've been working at the same company for 2 years but my hours got cut down to basically nothing - like 8 hours a week when I used to work 35-40. My boss says business is slow but won't lay me off completely. I'm looking for other work but can barely pay rent with these reduced hours. Do I have to actually get fired to qualify for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor, or can I file a claim for partial unemployment? I'm really confused about how this works and don't want to quit if it means I can't get any help.
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I had the WORST time trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor when I was dealing with a similar situation. Kept calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to real agents at NYS Department of Labor. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much frustration and I was able to get my partial claim sorted out properly.
never heard of that before, sounds too good to be true tbh
I was skeptical too but honestly it worked. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get things cleared up, especially with partial claims where the rules can be confusing.
The whole system is so backwards! Why should someone have to lose their job completely to get help when they're struggling with reduced hours? It's like they want people to choose between having some work or getting assistance. At least partial unemployment exists but they don't exactly advertise it well.
+1 the NYS Department of Labor website is confusing as hell about this stuff
NYS Department of Labor - do you apply for unemployment where you live or work?
I'm really confused about where I need to file my unemployment claim. I live in Rochester but my job was in Buffalo - about 70 miles away. When I got laid off last week, I wasn't sure if I should apply through NYS Department of Labor based on where I live or where I worked. I tried calling but couldn't get through to anyone. Does anyone know the rules for this? I don't want to mess up my claim by filing in the wrong place.
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William Rivera
ugh the whole system is so confusing! I was underemployed for like 3 months last year and could never figure out if I was doing the weekly claims right. kept getting different answers every time I called NYS Department of Labor
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Kayla Jacobson
Getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone is always a nightmare. If you're still having trouble with claims, I heard about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps people get connected to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.
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Grace Lee
I think there's also something about being able and available for work that's different between the two situations. Like if you're underemployed, you still have to prove you're looking for additional work or a better job, not just settling for the reduced hours.
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Evelyn Xu
Exactly right! The job search requirement applies to both unemployment and underemployment situations. You have to show you're actively seeking work that would restore your earnings to the level they were before.
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