I had a similar issue last year where I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor no matter how many times I called. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach agents at unemployment offices. I was skeptical at first but tried it and got connected to someone at NYS Department of Labor within like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to set up my payment plan the same day instead of spending weeks trying to get through on my own.

just wanted to say that my credit score is fine and i've had unemployment overpayments before. as long as you don't completely ignore them you should be okay. the real problem is when people just pretend it doesn't exist

I had this same frustration last year! What really helped me was using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a NYS Department of Labor representative. They helped me understand that my job search strategy needed adjustment - turns out I wasn't targeting the right types of positions for my background. There's a helpful video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Sometimes talking to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor can give you insights the website can't.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED! They say unemployment is low but these companies are posting fake job listings and ghost candidates after interviews. I've been unemployed for 6 months and NYS Department of Labor just keeps telling me to keep looking. Meanwhile my benefits are running out soon.

This is fascinating from a policy perspective. The unemployment insurance system established then required states to create their own programs - that's why we have NYS Department of Labor handling our claims rather than a federal system. Each state had to meet federal standards but could implement their own procedures for things like adjudication and job search requirements.

just wanted to add that agricultural programs also played a role, especially the Agricultural Adjustment Act. farming was still a huge employer back then so stabilizing farm incomes helped rural unemployment too

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone, you might want to check out claimyr.com - they help people actually reach unemployment agents when the regular phone lines are jammed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Given how important it is to report this situation quickly, it might be worth looking into.

Wait so what if someone is just in jail for like a weekend? Do you have to report that too or is there some minimum time period?

The system is fundamentally broken and they know it. They make it deliberately difficult hoping people will give up and stop claiming benefits. I've been through THREE separate adjudication processes this year alone, each one lasting weeks. The job search requirements are intentionally confusing and they change the rules without proper notification.

One thing that helped me was setting up a dedicated email folder for all NYS Department of Labor correspondence and keeping a calendar with important dates like when my job search activities are due. Prevention really is better than trying to fix problems after they happen. Also make sure your contact information is always current in the system.