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The whole system is rigged against workers!! They push you into jobs that pay nothing while corporations get tax breaks. Low unemployment just means more people working multiple part time jobs to survive. NYS Department of Labor doesn't care if you can actually live on what they're forcing you to accept.
The current unemployment rate in NY is around 4.1% as of December 2024, so you're definitely in the 'low unemployment' category. Make sure you're documenting everything in your job search log - the expanded radius requirements, salary considerations, and any job rejections. Keep detailed records because if there's ever a question about your eligibility, you'll need proof you were actively searching within the guidelines they gave you.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone (which happens A LOT), I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to a real person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck trying to reach someone about my claim status for weeks and this got me through in like 20 minutes. Might be worth it if you run into issues.
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your claim, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent 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 calling and getting hung up on.
Same question but wondering about things like paying off credit cards or student loans with unemployment money? Technically it's income replacement but curious if anyone knows if that could cause issues?
I went through this last year when I got let go. Had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone for weeks to check on my claim status. Finally 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. Saved me so much frustration trying to call over and over.
The whole system is designed to make employers pay as little as possible while making it hard for workers to get benefits. Your employer's UI tax rate goes up if too many former employees collect unemployment, so they have incentive to fight legitimate claims. It's frustrating but that's how it works.
Sofia Martinez
Being too slow at work is definitely performance, not misconduct. NYS Department of Labor distinguishes between the two. Misconduct has to be willful or deliberate - like refusing to follow direct orders or violating company policy on purpose. Poor performance, even if it leads to termination, usually doesn't disqualify you from benefits. Just document everything your supervisor says and does in case you need it for your claim.
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Dmitry Volkov
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a mess. they make you jump through so many hoops and then half the time the website doesnt even work. good luck dealing with all that bureaucracy if you do get fired
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Giovanni Ricci
•It's definitely not perfect, but the benefits are there for people who need them. The key is understanding the process and having realistic expectations about timing.
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