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I remember when I first got unemployment I thought it would be like my regular paycheck! Reality hit pretty hard when I realized it was only about half. The benefits are really just meant to keep you afloat while job searching, not maintain your previous lifestyle. Make sure you're actively looking for work because they do require job search activities.
Wait, what kind of job search activities? I've been applying to jobs but nobody told me about specific requirements.
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor agents to get more details about your benefit calculation, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. I was stuck trying to understand my benefit rate for weeks before using them to actually talk to someone.
Just to clarify - unemployment insurance in NY was actually established in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act, but I think you're asking about your personal claim timeline rather than the historical origins of the program! Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from your effective date, and you can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits during that period.
Wait, don't you have to be actively looking for work to get unemployment? I thought there were job search requirements you had to meet every week.
Yes, you're required to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a record of your job search activities. You'll need to report this when you file your weekly claims. The NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log, so keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and any responses you received.
Ugh the whole system is so stressful! I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim and their phone lines are always busy. When I finally got connected last month, they hung up on me after being on hold for 2 hours. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to the agents - you can check it out at claimyr.com and they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. I haven't tried it yet but I'm getting desperate to talk to someone about my adjudication.
StellarSurfer
The whole system is a mess though. Like sure it was created for good reasons but now it's just this bureaucratic nightmare where they make you jump through hoops and wait forever for basic stuff like getting your weekly claim processed.
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Freya Johansen
•I understand the frustration, but remember that unemployment insurance wasn't designed to be permanent income - it's temporary support while job searching. The requirements exist to ensure the system remains solvent for everyone who needs it.
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Sean Kelly
thanks for explaining this! always wondered about the history
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