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I had a nightmare time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status. Spent hours trying to call and either got busy signals or hung up on. Someone here recommended this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually get through to unemployment agents on the phone. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to resolve an issue with my weekly claims.
One thing - make sure you understand the job search requirements once you start getting benefits. You'll need to keep a log of your job search activities and apply for jobs each week. The requirements are different now than they were during COVID so don't assume anything.
honestly the whole system is such a mess, half the time the local offices don't even know what the online system is doing anyway
The unemployment system wasn't designed for the modern economy. Most of the rules and procedures were created decades ago when job markets were more stable and predictable. Now you have gig workers, remote positions, seasonal employment, and industry shifts that don't fit into the old categories. The NYS Department of Labor infrastructure can't handle the volume or complexity of today's workforce situations.
Been there! Applied for EBT when I was on unemployment in 2023. Got approved for about $400/month for me and my daughter. The unemployment definitely counted as income but it wasn't enough to disqualify us. The application asks for all your income sources including unemployment benefits.
Teresa Boyd
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to clarify the partial benefits rules, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually got me connected to a real person who explained exactly how to report my part-time earnings without screwing up my claim. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.
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Natalia Stone
•That sounds helpful - I've been calling for two weeks trying to get clarification on the partial benefits calculation.
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Lourdes Fox
Just keep doing your weekly certifications and be honest about your earnings! The worst thing you can do is not report the part-time income because NYS Department of Labor will eventually find out through quarterly wage reports and then you'll have a real mess to deal with.
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