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The NYS Department of Labor phone system is impossible to get through to ask about complex situations like this. I spent weeks trying to reach someone about my medical leave situation. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real NYS Department of Labor agent who explained my options. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to navigate the bureaucracy myself.
Never heard of that service before. Did they actually help you get approved for benefits or just connect you to someone?
ugh the whole system is so frustrating when you're dealing with medical issues!! like you're already stressed about your health and then you have to jump through all these hoops just to survive financially. i hope you get approved OP because this situation is exactly what unemployment benefits should be for
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and the phone system is impossible! If you need to change your tax withholding or ask questions about this stuff, good luck getting through. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to real NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.
The whole tax situation with unemployment is so frustrating. They don't explain any of this clearly when you first apply. I ended up owing like $800 at tax time because I didn't know about the withholding option. NYS Department of Labor really needs to do better at educating people about this stuff upfront.
Make sure you organize your evidence chronologically! I made the mistake of just throwing all my documents together and it made my case confusing. Create a simple chart showing: Date of work, Hours worked, Amount earned, Date you certified, Hours you reported. This visual comparison will make it obvious if there are any discrepancies (and hopefully prove there aren't any). Also keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - the appeal process can take months.
Wait, are you sure you reported your gross earnings and not your net pay? That's a common mistake that leads to overpayments. NYS Department of Labor wants to know your total earnings before taxes, not what you actually took home. Double check your weekly certifications against your pay stubs to make sure you used the right numbers.
Oh wow, I never thought about that! Let me go back and check. I think I did report gross but now I'm second-guessing myself. If I made that mistake, can I still appeal or should I just pay it back?
honestly just put down anyone who knows you're unemployed and looking for work... they probably won't even call unless there's an issue with your claim
StardustSeeker
Don't beat yourself up about waiting three weeks, happens to everyone. The important thing is you're filing now. Make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from this point forward because NYS Department of Labor requires you to search for work and keep records. You'll need to certify that you're looking for work when you file your weekly claims.
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AstroAdventurer
To give you the complete picture: file your initial claim as soon as possible after losing your job, request backdating for any weeks you qualify for within the 4-week window, and make sure you understand that your waiting week still applies. Even if you backdate, you typically won't get paid for the first week of unemployment - that's just how the system works. The important thing is getting your claim in the system so you can start the weekly certification process.
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