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honestly the whole unemployment system is such a pain... i filed when my company just stopped paying everyone and it took forever to get anything sorted out. but yeah you should definitely file, they cant expect you to work for free!!!
The whole system is ridiculous. They make these calculations so complicated and then make it impossible to get help understanding them. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and still don't fully understand how they came up with my numbers.
The NYS Department of Labor system is so slow right now!! I've been waiting 3 weeks for my approval and every time I call they just say to wait longer. It's ridiculous that they can't give you a straight answer about timing.
Just want to clarify something important - even if your initial claim is still pending, you should start filing your weekly claims as soon as you're able to. You can file weekly claims even before your initial application is fully processed. This ensures you don't lose any benefit weeks while waiting for approval. The weekly claims will just sit there until your main claim gets approved, then they'll process all the back weeks.
definitely file!! the worst they can say is no and at least you'll know for sure. restaurant workers get screwed over all the time with hour cuts, you deserve benefits if you qualify
One thing to keep in mind is that you have to be separated from work through no fault of your own. Since your hours were cut by the employer and you didn't quit or get fired for misconduct, you should be fine on that requirement. Just be honest about your situation when you file your claim and during any potential phone interviews.
Melody Miles
If you're having trouble getting through the website or need help with the application, I actually used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach a NYS Department of Labor agent directly. Sometimes the website can be confusing for first-time filers and it's helpful to talk to someone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Is that legit? I've never heard of using a service to contact unemployment.
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Melody Miles
•Yeah it's real, they just help you get through to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor when the phone lines are busy. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Eva St. Cyr
Whatever you do, DON'T wait to apply! I made that mistake thinking I'd find another job quickly and missed out on weeks of benefits. The NYS Department of Labor has a one-week waiting period anyway, so the sooner you file the better. And yes, it's all online now - they closed most of the physical offices during COVID and never reopened them.
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Chloe Zhang
•Good to know about the waiting period. I was wondering if I'd get paid right away.
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