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The whole system is ridiculous. They make it so hard for people with legitimate medical issues to get benefits. I had to fight for months when I left my job because of my back problems and they kept asking for more and more documentation. Eventually got approved but the stress was awful.
If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about your claim status, I had success using Claimyr recently. It's a service that calls on your behalf and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. I was skeptical at first but after weeks of busy signals, I finally got through and resolved my adjudication issue in one call.
The determination process also includes checking if you're able and available to work. You have to be actively looking for work and document your job search activities. Plus they verify you're not receiving other income like severance or vacation pay that might affect your benefits.
Good point about the job search requirement. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week to stay compliant?
honestly the whole system is ridiculous, they make you jump through so many hoops even when you legitimately need help. File your claim anyway and see what happens, even if you were fired for a stupid reason they might still approve you. The worst case is you waste some time filling out forms.
File ASAP! Don't wait around thinking about whether you qualify or not. I waited two weeks after getting fired before applying and ended up losing out on those benefits because your claim date starts when you file, not when you lost your job.
Connor O'Brien
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! They give you money then want it back in taxes, makes no sense. I'm so tired of dealing with NYS Department of Labor bureaucracy and now the IRS too!
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StarSailor
Don't panic about the taxes. Yes you'll owe on the unemployment income but if you're in a lower tax bracket it might not be as bad as you think. Use the IRS tax calculator online to estimate what you'll owe. You can also make quarterly payments if you're still receiving benefits to spread out the tax burden.
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