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If you do need to contact NYS Department of Labor about your claim, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). I used them when I couldn't get through to an agent after calling for days. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me get my questions answered about my compensation amount.
honestly the whole system is designed to deny as many people as possible... they'll find ANY excuse to say no and then make you jump through hoops to prove you deserve it
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.
Amina Toure
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.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Wait, what kind of job search activities? I've been applying to jobs but nobody told me about specific requirements.
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Keisha Robinson
•You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a record of your search activities. Check your my.ny.gov account for the specific requirements - they can vary based on your situation.
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Natasha Volkova
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.
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Yara Nassar
•How much does something like that cost? Money's already tight with the reduced income.
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Natasha Volkova
•It's worth checking out their site for the details. For me it was worth it to finally get answers instead of being stuck in phone queue hell.
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