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Just make sure you're filing your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed! I made the mistake of waiting until my claim was approved and it delayed everything. You can't get paid for weeks you don't file, even retroactively.
The whole system is a joke tbh. They make it as difficult as possible and then act like they're doing you a favor. I've been waiting 5 weeks for adjudication on mine and still no word. Meanwhile bills keep coming...
Low unemployment can actually work in your favor if you're genuinely looking for work. More job openings means you'll have legitimate job contacts to report each week, which strengthens your weekly certification. Just make sure you're applying to positions that match your skills and experience level - don't just apply randomly to meet the quota.
The NYS Department of Labor system is SO FRUSTRATING!! They deny weeks for the stupidest reasons and then make it impossible to reach anyone for help. I swear they do this on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits they're entitled to.
To get this resolved, you'll need to either call NYS Department of Labor directly or file an appeal if you believe the denial was incorrect. If it was just a misunderstanding about your availability during the doctor's appointment, they should be able to reverse it. Make sure you have documentation of the appointment and can explain why you were still able and available for work the other days that week.
The unemployment system is so frustrating to navigate, especially for situations like this that aren't black and white. I spent weeks trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone when I had questions about my claim status. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Sometimes you really need to talk to someone who can look at your specific situation rather than trying to figure it out from the website.
Jace Caspullo
honestly the whole system is ridiculous... you pay into unemployment insurance for years and then when you need it for a few weeks they find every excuse to deny you. meanwhile people game the system all the time and get benefits they shouldn't
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Melody Miles
•I feel your frustration but the rules are pretty clear about voluntary separation. It's designed to help people who lose jobs involuntarily, not cover gaps between chosen employment.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
Just went through something similar when I switched from my accounting job to a new firm. The 4-week gap killed me financially but I couldn't get unemployment. Had to pick up some freelance work to bridge the gap. Maybe look into temp agencies or gig work for those 6 weeks?
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