


Ask the community...
If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to set up tax withholding for future claims, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
The whole system is rigged against workers. They deny legitimate claims hoping people won't appeal. Fight it but prepare for a battle. NYS Department of Labor will probably have your former employer provide their side of the story and they might lie to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes.
The key thing is to make sure you meet the monetary eligibility requirements. NYS Department of Labor looks at your earnings over the past year to determine if you qualify. Since you worked 8 months, you should be fine as long as you earned enough during that base period. Don't stress too much about the application - it's designed to be user-friendly.
Make sure you're filing during your designated day! NYS Department of Labor assigns you a specific day of the week to file based on your last name. If you try to file on the wrong day the system won't let you through. Check your paperwork or account to see what day you're supposed to file.
Sophia Gabriel
The whole system is a NIGHTMARE now compared to back then!! Used to be you could actually talk to someone without waiting 3 hours on hold. Now they just hang up on you after an hour of waiting. Obama era was definitely better for unemployment claims.
0 coins
Tobias Lancaster
Just wanted to add that even though the process might be more complex now, the benefit amounts have increased. Maximum weekly benefit in NY is higher now than it was in 2017, so that's something positive at least.
0 coins