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The system is completely broken. I've been waiting 5 weeks and when I finally got through to someone they told me my employer contested my claim but nobody bothered to tell me! You have to be your own advocate because NYS Department of Labor won't keep you informed of anything.
Check your employer information in the system to see if there are any flags or notes. For a business closure, NYS Department of Labor should be able to verify that independently through state business records, which might actually speed up your claim once they do that verification. Keep filing your weekly claims even while it's under review - you can get backpay for those weeks once approved.
The whole appeals process is a joke anyway. They almost always side with the employer. I appealed mine twice and still got denied. Good luck but don't get your hopes up too high.
ugh tell me about it. been on ui for 4 months and i basically dont buy anything anymore except like groceries and gas. used to go out to eat couple times a week now its maybe once a month if that. really makes you realize how much money you waste when you have a regular job
The impact on local businesses is devastating. When a bunch of people in an area lose jobs and cut spending, restaurants close, retail stores struggle, service businesses fail. I saw this happen in my neighborhood when the plant closed and 800 people went on unemployment. Half the shops on Main Street ended up shutting down within a year.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent when I couldn't get through on my own. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
The whole system is so backwards! Why should there be a waiting week when people need money immediately after losing their job? And don't get me started on how they side with employers on attendance issues even when people have legitimate reasons for missing work.
Freya Collins
If you're having trouble with your job search requirements or need help reaching NYS Department of Labor agents about your claim, I used claimyr.com recently when I couldn't get through their phone lines. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works. Really helped me get connected to an actual person when I had questions about my weekly certification.
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LongPeri
•Never heard of that service before. Did it actually work for getting through to someone at NYS Department of Labor? Their phone system is impossible.
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Freya Collins
•Yeah it worked great for me. No more sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. Worth checking out the demo video to see how it works.
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Oscar O'Neil
The unemployment system is just broken no matter what the rates are!! I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months over an overpayment issue and they can't give me straight answers. These statistics don't mean anything when the actual system doesn't work properly.
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Sara Hellquiem
•I feel you on the system being frustrating. At least the job market being good means more opportunities out there even if dealing with unemployment benefits is a headache.
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