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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.
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly it's a nightmare. The website crashes constantly, you can never get through on the phone, and they make you jump through so many hoops just to get money you're entitled to. But yeah, unemployment insurance is supposed to replace part of your income while you look for new work. Just be prepared for a lot of frustration with their system.
I had similar issues trying to reach them by phone. After weeks of busy signals, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a NYS Department of Labor agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me so much time and stress when I needed to check on my adjudication status.
Just wanted to add - make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's no waiting period in NY, so you can file your claim right away. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can start. And don't worry about making mistakes on the application - you can always call to correct information later (though good luck getting through to them on the phone!).
Been there with the ski resort thing! Getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to ask about seasonal eligibility was impossible last year - kept getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connected me directly to an agent. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered about standby status.
The NYS unemployment system is such a joke for seasonal workers. They make you jump through hoops proving you're looking for work when everyone knows you're just waiting for your seasonal job to start back up. But yeah technically you can collect if you meet the wage requirements.
Just went through this nightmare trying to reach NYS Department of Labor about a contested claim issue. Couldn't get through on the phone for weeks until someone told me about claimyr.com - they actually got me connected to an agent who explained how the employer tax system works. There's a good video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works for getting through to speak with someone.
Katherine Shultz
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to verify her eligibility, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It was way easier than trying to call the regular number and getting disconnected. An agent was able to look at my work history and tell me exactly what I qualified for.
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Marcus Marsh
•Is that one of those paid services? I'm always skeptical of companies that charge you to access government benefits you should be able to get for free.
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Katherine Shultz
•I understand the skepticism, but honestly the time I saved was worth it. Spent weeks trying to get through on my own before finding them. They just help you connect with the actual NYS Department of Labor agents, you're still dealing directly with the state.
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Hailey O'Leary
The whole system is so confusing! I worked full-time for years then became a consultant and thought I'd automatically be covered. Had no idea contractors weren't eligible until I actually needed it. Your sister should definitely file an application even if she's unsure - worst case they'll deny it but at least she'll have an official answer.
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Kristin Frank
•Good point about filing anyway. Sometimes people are surprised by their eligibility, especially if they had multiple types of employment. The NYS Department of Labor will review all her work history in their system.
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