


Ask the community...
Wait, I thought everyone who lost their job could get unemployment? My cousin in another state got it right away when he was laid off.
THE SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!!! They disqualify people for the stupidest reasons and never explain properly. I bet it's some technicality in how you answered one of the weekly questions. They're looking for any excuse to deny claims these days.
Check if you accidentally answered 'yes' to working or earning money when you didn't, or if you missed reporting some part-time work. Even small mistakes on weekly claims can trigger disqualifications. The good news is most of these can be fixed if you catch them early and provide the correct information.
When I was trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation, I couldn't reach anyone for weeks. The phone lines are always busy and the online chat never works. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped me understand my benefit amount calculation.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE PEOPLE! They make it so complicated on purpose so people give up and don't claim benefits they're entitled to. Why can't they just say 'you get X percent of your pay' like every other state???
Wait I'm confused - if you quit your full time job even for a good reason like taking care of family, doesn't that still count against you?? I thought any voluntary quit was bad news for unemployment. Now I'm worried about my own situation because I left my last job due to harassment but haven't filed yet.
Good cause quits can qualify you for benefits. Examples include unsafe working conditions, harassment, domestic violence situations, or compelling family circumstances like caring for an ill family member. The key is documenting the reason and showing you tried to resolve the issue first when possible.
Diego Fernández
ugh the whole unemployment system is such a pain but yeah you should apply. just prepare for lots of waiting and confusing rules. they make it so complicated on purpose i swear. but if you were laid off you definitely qualify so might as well get what you can
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
Absolutely apply! Just remember you'll need to start looking for work immediately and keep a log of your job search activities. NYS requires you to make at least three work search contacts per week. The good news is online applications count, so it's not too hard to meet the requirement.
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