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One thing they don't always tell you upfront is that you need to do job search activities to keep getting benefits. You have to log into the NYS Department of Labor system every week and record your job search efforts. I think it's at least 3 job contacts per week but check the current requirements. Also if you're having trouble getting through to the NYS Department of Labor by phone (which happens a lot), there's a service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps people reach agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling when I had questions about my claim status.
honestly the whole system is such a pain... took me forever to get my first payment and then they put my claim under adjudication for like a month for no reason. but yeah file online ASAP and make sure all your info is exactly right or they'll delay everything
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your adjudication status, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was stuck trying to call for weeks and they got me through to someone who could explain exactly what documentation the employer had submitted and what I needed to provide for my defense.
The whole misconduct thing is so subjective it's ridiculous. I've seen people get denied for the most minor stuff while others who actually deserved to be fired somehow get approved. The system is a joke and employers know they can just claim misconduct for anything and make you jump through hoops to prove otherwise.
I had such a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask similar questions about my claim. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at NYS Department of Labor within like 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Totally worth it when you need actual answers instead of guessing about stuff like unemployment rates affecting benefits.
The unemployment rate when any president leaves office doesn't matter for your personal UI benefits lol. But yeah it was around 3.8% nationally when Biden left in January. In NY specifically it was probably similar. Your $420/week sounds about right depending on what you were making before. Just keep doing your weekly certifications and job searches.
Angelica Smith
Don't let the system intimidate you! I was terrified when I first filed but it's actually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. The unemployment claim process has these main steps: 1) File your initial claim with work history and reason for separation 2) Wait for determination letter 3) File weekly claims every week 4) Complete job search activities 5) Get paid if everything's approved. The NYS Department of Labor has improved their online system a lot since COVID so it's much more user-friendly now.
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Logan Greenburg
•lol 'user friendly' - clearly you haven't tried calling them lately. the phone system is a nightmare and half the time the website crashes when you're trying to file your weekly claim
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Charlotte Jones
To add to what others said - your unemployment claim also determines your weekly benefit amount based on your past earnings. The NYS Department of Labor looks at your wages from the last 18 months and calculates roughly half your average weekly wage, up to the maximum benefit amount. Right now in 2025 the max is around $530 per week. You can collect for up to 26 weeks typically, though this can vary based on economic conditions.
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Zachary Hughes
•Wait, they look at 18 months of wages? What if I only worked at this job for 6 months?
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Charlotte Jones
•They'll look at all your jobs during that base period. If you don't have enough work history, you might not qualify for regular unemployment benefits. There are specific earnings requirements you need to meet.
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