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Wait, are you looking at state unemployment rates or individual unemployment claims? Because if you're trying to get data about actual claims filed with NYS Department of Labor, that's totally different from the overall unemployment percentage for the state. I was confused about this too when I was doing research.
If you need help accessing NYS Department of Labor data or have questions about their statistics, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to someone at the department who could point me to the right resources. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Sometimes calling directly gets you better guidance than just searching their website.
I was in a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone for weeks to ask about my options. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Turned out I qualified for benefits even though I thought I wouldn't. Sometimes talking to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor helps you understand your rights better than trying to figure it out online.
Just remember that even if you get fired and qualify for UI, you still have to do the job search requirements. NYS Department of Labor requires 3 work search activities per week and you have to keep a log. Don't assume getting benefits means you can just coast - they're pretty strict about the job search stuff now.
UGH the federal unemployment tax act is such a mess!! My employer went out of business and apparently never paid their unemployment taxes properly. Now I'm stuck dealing with NYS Department of Labor trying to figure out my benefits while I can barely pay rent. The whole system is broken!!!
Yeah but it's not just about individual cases - this creates a whole cycle where businesses hesitate to hire because they know wage costs might force them to cut later. Then more people end up needing unemployment benefits which puts pressure on the whole system...
Oscar O'Neil
If you're having trouble understanding NYS Department of Labor terminology or need to speak with someone about your claim status, I had luck using Claimyr to get through to an actual agent. The phone lines are always busy but their service helped me connect without waiting on hold forever. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI and the site is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
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JaylinCharles
•Thanks! I might need that if I run into more confusing stuff. The website is pretty overwhelming with all the different sections.
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Sara Hellquiem
Claimant is just legal speak for 'person filing the claim.' You'll also see terms like 'benefit year' and 'base period' that sound complicated but are really straightforward once you understand them. The NYS Department of Labor website has a glossary somewhere that explains all these terms if you want to get familiar with them.
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