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Also make sure you understand the difference between regular UI and other programs. I got confused at first thinking I qualified for something I didn't. Stick to regular unemployment insurance unless you have specific circumstances like being on standby from your employer.
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about tax withholding options when I was on unemployment in 2021. Their phone lines were constantly busy and the online chat never worked. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Finally got my tax questions answered and set up withholding for the rest of my claim period.
Did that actually work? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor about setting up withholding for my current claim and can never get through.
The system is broken. I know people who've been collecting UI for months and they're worse off than when they started. Meanwhile the NYS Department of Labor makes you jump through hoops just to get what you're entitled to. And don't even get me started on the overpayment notices they send out randomly.
One thing that helped me was creating a strict budget based on my UI payment amount and sticking to it religiously. I also took advantage of every free resource I could find - food banks, utility assistance programs, free job training through Workforce One. It's not ideal but it helped bridge the gap until I found work again.
Just want to add that when you file make sure you have all your employment info ready - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The NYS Department of Labor will verify everything with your employers so don't guess on dates or details.
ugh the whole system is such a mess. took me forever to figure out how to even apply online and then they made me wait weeks for adjudication. good luck dealing with that bureaucracy
Gianna Scott
This reminds me of what happened during the pandemic when unemployment spiked but then dropped really fast in some areas. Employers were offering crazy signing bonuses because they couldn't find workers anywhere. Restaurants were closing early, construction projects got delayed. Even though unemployment was low, it created other problems.
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Alfredo Lugo
Makes sense from a macro perspective but honestly the NYS Department of Labor system seems designed like they WANT some people to stay unemployed longer with all the bureaucracy and delays...
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Donna Cline
•The administrative challenges are separate from the economic theory though. Ideally the system would process claims efficiently while still maintaining the natural job market flexibility.
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