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The unemployment system is such BS. They make it so complicated to figure out if you qualify and then take forever to make decisions. Even if you have good reasons they'll probably find some way to deny you initially just to save money.
Small businesses get hit the hardest by unemployment costs. We had to lay off 3 people during COVID and our unemployment insurance rates went through the roof. It's like being punished twice - first you lose revenue and have to cut staff, then you pay higher taxes for years because of those layoffs. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't care that you had no choice.
Wait, I thought unemployment just meant you don't have a job? There's more to it than that? I've been collecting benefits for two months and nobody told me about keeping a job search log...
I remember when I first learned what unemployment describes - it's not just being out of work, it's being out of work AND meeting all these specific conditions. My sister got denied because she quit her job voluntarily, even though she was technically unemployed. The NYS Department of Labor is very strict about the 'involuntary' part of the unemployment condition.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been fighting with them for months over my anxiety disorder and they keep asking for more and more paperwork. Even with multiple doctors saying I can't work they still want to drag it out. Don't get your hopes up that this will be easy or quick.
Yuki Yamamoto
Appeals are definitely worth filing if you think the denial was wrong! You have 30 days from the determination date. I won my appeal last year after they initially said I quit voluntarily, but I had documentation showing I was laid off due to lack of work.
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Carmen Ruiz
Don't forget about the job search requirements too. Even if you qualify initially, they can stop your benefits if you don't do the required job contacts each week or skip appointments at the career center. I know someone who lost benefits because they missed one appointment.
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Luca Greco
•Good point, I'll make sure to keep track of all that stuff. Better safe than sorry with NYS Department of Labor.
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