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Don't forget you'll also need to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits, even if your initial claim is still processing. And you have to do job search activities - the requirement is 3 work search contacts per week unless you're on standby status with your employer.
What counts as work search contacts? Just applying for jobs online or do I need to do other stuff too?
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a mess. they make it impossible to get straight answers about anything including how much you'll actually receive until you're already in the system
THE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been waiting 5 weeks for my first payment because they keep saying my claim is under review. Meanwhile I can't pay my rent! And good luck trying to call them - the phone just hangs up on you after an hour on hold.
The system is SO broken! 26 weeks isn't enough time to find decent work in this economy. They expect you to take any minimum wage job just to get off benefits. Meanwhile they're making it harder and harder to even qualify in the first place!
Wait, are we talking about regular unemployment or standby? Because standby has different rules. I was on standby for my union job and that was different timing.
I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my claim that's stuck in adjudication and can never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible. If you need to talk to someone about your application, I recently found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to a real person at claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration compared to calling myself and getting hung up on constantly.
Sunny Wang
I had such a hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about this exact question last year. Spent hours on hold trying to reach someone who could explain what counts as remuneration. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual agents - they have a website at claimyr.com and there's even a demo video showing how it works (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI). Made it so much easier to get my questions answered about reporting requirements.
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Hugh Intensity
•Never heard of that service but honestly anything that helps with getting through to NYS Department of Labor sounds helpful. Those phone lines are impossible.
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Effie Alexander
The remuneration question trips up SO many people! I work in HR and see this confusion all the time. Just remember - if you did any work or received any payment related to work during the week you're certifying for, report it. NYS Department of Labor would rather you report something that doesn't count than miss something that does. Better safe than sorry when it comes to unemployment fraud accusations.
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