New York Unemployment
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Can't reach New York Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the NYDOL
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the NYDOL drops your call
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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
NYS Department of Labor - what counts as unemployment for benefits eligibility?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor but I'm confused about what actually counts as being unemployed. I got laid off from my part-time retail job last month but I also do some freelance graphic design work occasionally. Does having occasional freelance income disqualify me? And what about if I'm looking for full-time work but only finding part-time opportunities - does that count? I've never filed for UI before and the my.ny.gov website has so much information I'm getting overwhelmed trying to understand the basic requirements.
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Does my employer pay unemployment if I get fired from my job in NY?
I might be getting terminated from my job next week and I'm trying to understand how unemployment works. Does my employer actually pay for my unemployment benefits if I get fired? I've heard different things from coworkers - some say the company pays directly, others say it comes from taxes. I want to know what to expect before I potentially file a claim with NYS Department of Labor. Also wondering if it matters whether I get fired for performance issues vs layoffs.
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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.
Never heard of that before but might be worth checking out if the phone lines are still impossible to get through.
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.
this is why so many companies try to claim everything is misconduct even when its not
What can you use unemployment money for - NYS Department of Labor spending rules?
Got approved for unemployment benefits last week and wondering if there are any restrictions on what I can spend the money on? I know it's meant to replace income while I'm looking for work, but are there specific NYS Department of Labor rules about what you can and can't buy with unemployment payments? Like can I use it for rent, groceries, car payments, etc? Don't want to get in trouble or mess up my claim status.
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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.
never heard of that but might be worth trying, calling nysdol is basically impossible
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?
No issues at all. Your unemployment benefits are yours to use for any expenses. Paying off debt is actually financially smart if you can manage it while covering your basic needs.
Fired my employee last week - can they collect NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits?
I own a small construction company and had to terminate one of my workers last Friday for repeatedly showing up late and missing deadlines. He was a decent guy but just couldn't get his act together after multiple warnings. Now I'm wondering if he's going to be able to collect unemployment benefits and if that's going to affect my unemployment insurance rates with NYS Department of Labor. Does anyone know how this works when you fire someone for performance issues vs misconduct? I documented everything but I'm not sure if that matters.
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honestly the unemployment system is so broken, doesn't matter if you fire someone or they quit, they'll probably get benefits anyway. i've seen people get unemployment after stealing from their employer because nys department of labor barely investigates anything anymore
That's not really accurate. NYS Department of Labor does investigate misconduct claims, especially when employers provide documentation. Theft would definitely disqualify someone from benefits if proven. The process might be slow but they do make proper determinations based on the evidence.
NYS Department of Labor asking about annual federal unemployment tax return - confused about form 940
I'm trying to file my weekly claim and the NYS Department of Labor system is asking me about something called the annual federal unemployment tax return. I think they mean form 940? I'm so confused because I thought that was something only employers file, not people claiming unemployment benefits. Has anyone else seen this question on their weekly certification? I don't want to mess up my claim by answering wrong but I have no idea what they're asking for.
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If clearing your cache doesn't work, you might need to contact an NYS Department of Labor agent directly. I had a similar issue where the system was mixing up different types of forms and I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual person at NYS Department of Labor. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. The agent was able to clear up the system error on my account in just a few minutes.
I've never heard of that service but if it actually gets you through to someone at NYS Department of Labor it might be worth trying. The regular phone number just hangs up on me.
Just to clarify for anyone else reading - Form 940 is specifically the Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return. Employers use it to report wages subject to FUTA tax and calculate their annual FUTA tax liability. As unemployment claimants, we have nothing to do with this form. If you're seeing it on your weekly claim, it's definitely a system error that needs to be fixed.
Dylan Baskin
The job search requirement is important too - you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. NYS Department of Labor can ask for your job search records at any time so make sure you're documenting everything properly.
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Lily Young
AuthorDo freelance client contacts count toward the 3 weekly job contacts requirement?
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Wesley Hallow
No, freelance client outreach doesn't count. The job contacts need to be for traditional employment opportunities - applying for posted jobs, networking for potential positions, attending job fairs, etc.
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Lauren Wood
i was in a similar situation last year and got approved no problem. just file the claim and see what happens. worst case they deny it and you appeal
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