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This system is so messed up! 26 weeks isn't enough time to find a decent job anymore. I'm in the same boat and it's really scary not knowing how I'm going to pay rent. The NYS Department of Labor needs to extend benefits like other states do.
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to confirm your options, I used this 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 hours of calling and getting hung up on.
I was making $52k and my weekly benefit came out to $480, so yeah it's pretty close to 50%. The NYS Department of Labor calculation looks at your highest earning quarter during the base period and divides by 26. Just make sure you report any part-time work accurately when you file your weekly claims or you could get hit with an overpayment later.
The whole system is designed to give you as little as possible! They make the calculations confusing on purpose so people don't know what they're entitled to. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for months over my benefit amount and they keep giving me the runaround.
I remember when I first filed I was so confused about this too. They also factor in any part-time work you might have had during that base period. If you worked multiple jobs, they combine all the wages from all employers during those quarters.
Rita Jacobs
The unemployment system in this state is ridiculous!! They make it so hard to get benefits even when you've been paying into it for years. My friend quit because her boss was sexually harassing her and they STILL gave her a hard time about it. Had to get a lawyer involved just to get what she deserved.
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Edward McBride
•thats awful! the whole system needs to be reformed
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Manny Lark
Wait I'm confused - if you quit can you still file weekly claims while waiting for the decision? Or do you have to wait until after adjudication is complete?
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Gael Robinson
•You should file your initial claim right away and continue filing weekly claims even during adjudication. If you're eventually approved, you'll get retroactive payment for those weeks. If you wait to file, you could lose out on benefits for those weeks.
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