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this whole system is ridiculous, they make you jump through hoops to get unemployment then tax you on it like its some kind of bonus income when you're already struggling financially
If unemployment was your only income and it was under $13,850 (the 2024 standard deduction), you're not required to file federal taxes. But you might want to anyway because you could get money back if you had taxes withheld. For New York state, the threshold is different so check with a tax professional.
Just to add - if you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your claim, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get anyone on the phone until I tried them. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone about your benefits calculation.
Did you actually get through to someone? I've been calling the NYS Department of Labor number for two weeks and keep getting that busy signal or getting disconnected.
THE WHOLE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS A SCAM! They deny legitimate claims left and right then make you jump through hoops to prove you deserve your own money. I've been fighting them for 8 months over an overpayment that isn't even my fault. These people have NO accountability whatsoever!
The whole system is messed up!! They expect us to find jobs when there ARE NO JOBS. Then they threaten to cut benefits if we don't apply to enough places. It's like they don't understand basic economics - when unemployment is high, there's literally not enough work to go around!
Been through a few of these economic downturns over the years. The key is to cast a wider net - apply to temp agencies, consider part-time work, maybe look into retraining programs. NYS Department of Labor sometimes has additional resources during high unemployment periods. Don't give up, the cycle always turns around eventually.
Javier Morales
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about the appeal process, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach someone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck trying to get clarification on my appeal status and this got me through to an actual person who could explain the next steps.
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Emma Davis
•Never heard of that before but might be worth looking into. The phone lines are impossible to get through on.
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GalaxyGlider
Appeals are definitely worth it when you know the decision is wrong. The burden of proof is on the employer to show misconduct, and if they classified a layoff as misconduct that's pretty easy to challenge. Just make sure you have your facts straight about the timeline and circumstances.
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