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.
$19.99StandardOne price
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 :)
How does unemployment work in NY - confused about the whole process
I might need to file for unemployment soon and honestly have no clue how any of this works. Like do I just go online and apply? How much money do you get? Do I have to prove I'm looking for work every week? My job might be ending next month and I'm trying to understand what I'm getting into before it happens. Can someone explain the basics of how unemployment benefits work in New York?
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Why is NYS Department of Labor unemployment so hard to get approved?
I've been trying to get unemployment benefits for over a month now and it feels impossible. First my initial claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks with no explanation. Then when I finally got someone on the phone, they said I needed to provide more work history documentation even though I uploaded everything they asked for. Now they're questioning whether I was actually laid off or if I quit voluntarily, which makes no sense because I have the termination letter. Every time I call the NYS Department of Labor I either get disconnected or told to wait for a callback that never comes. Is the system designed to make people give up? Why is this process so deliberately difficult?
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The system is definitely broken. I've been dealing with an overpayment notice for benefits I received LAST YEAR that they're now saying I wasn't entitled to. How can they approve payments and then take them back months later? It feels like they approve people just to create debt later. The whole NYS Department of Labor operation needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
Overpayment notices can be issued if they discover information that affects your initial eligibility determination. You have appeal rights for those notices - definitely don't ignore them.
Does NYS Department of Labor unemployment count as income for FAFSA - confused about reporting
I'm filling out my FAFSA for next year and I'm not sure if I need to report the unemployment benefits I received from NYS Department of Labor. I was laid off in March and collected UI for about 6 months before finding a new job. The total was around $8,200. Some websites say unemployment counts as income but others say it doesn't for federal aid purposes. Has anyone dealt with this before? I don't want to mess up my financial aid by reporting it wrong.
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If you're having trouble getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor to verify your benefit amounts or get documentation, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I needed to talk to an agent about my 1099-G form. They help you actually reach a human at the unemployment office instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.
Never heard of that but might be useful. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is absolutely terrible.
Just to add - make sure you're looking at the right tax year when reporting. If you received unemployment in 2024, that goes on your 2025-2026 FAFSA. If it was 2023 benefits, it should have been on your current FAFSA. The timing can get confusing especially if you were collecting UI across multiple calendar years.
Can I sign up for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I just lost my job last Friday and I'm wondering if I can sign up for unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and I'm not sure where to start or if I even qualify. I worked at a retail store for about 8 months before they let me go due to budget cuts. Do I need to apply right away or can I wait a few days? Also, what information do I need to have ready when I apply?
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One thing to know is that if you have trouble getting through on the phone to NYS Department of Labor, there's a service called Claimyr that can help you get connected to an agent faster. I found out about it when I was stuck in adjudication and couldn't reach anyone for weeks. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to speak to someone about my claim status.
That's good to know! I hope I don't run into any issues, but I'll keep that in mind if I can't get through.
How fast is NYS Department of Labor unemployment processed after filing?
I submitted my unemployment application through my.ny.gov three days ago and I'm wondering how long the NYS Department of Labor typically takes to process claims? I lost my job last week due to layoffs and really need to know when I might see my first payment. My friend said it took her forever but that was during COVID. Is it faster now? Also worried because I haven't heard anything back yet - should I be concerned?
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The NYS Department of Labor has actually improved processing times significantly since 2023. Standard claims without complications typically process within 10-14 business days. However, if your claim requires adjudication (employer disputes, quit vs layoff verification, etc.) it can take 4-6 weeks. You can check your claim status on my.ny.gov. If you're having trouble reaching them by phone due to high call volume, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works.
Wait what's adjudication exactly? My status just says pending and I'm freaking out that something went wrong
Adjudication is when NYS Department of Labor needs to investigate something about your claim - like verifying the reason you left your job or confirming your work history. Pending status is normal for the first week or two, don't panic yet.
The whole system is a nightmare honestly. I've been waiting 3 weeks just to talk to someone about my claim status and the phone lines are always busy. They say processing is faster but try actually getting help when something goes wrong!
Same here! Filed 2 weeks ago and still nothing. This is ridiculous.
Nina Fitzgerald
The whole system is a nightmare honestly. I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim being stuck in adjudication and their phone lines are always busy. You call and get disconnected constantly. It's like they don't want to help people.
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Nina Fitzgerald
How much does something like that cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to reach our own government agency.
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Jason Brewer
I know it feels wrong to need help just to make a phone call, but honestly it saved me so much stress and time. The alternative was potentially losing weeks of benefits while waiting.
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Kiara Fisherman
Just make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing. Missing a week can cause delays in your payments later. And NEVER lie about working or earning money - they cross-reference with employment records and you'll get hit with an overpayment demand.
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Lauren Wood
What happens if I work a few hours one week but still need unemployment? Do I report that?
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Kiara Fisherman
Yes absolutely report any work and earnings. They'll reduce your benefit amount for that week based on what you earned, but you won't lose eligibility completely as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $50.
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