Complete unemployment benefits guide for NYS Department of Labor - what am I missing?
I've been trying to piece together a complete unemployment benefits guide after getting laid off last month from my marketing job. I've read through the NYS Department of Labor website but honestly it's pretty confusing and scattered. I know I need to file weekly claims and do job searches, but there's so much conflicting info online about requirements. Does anyone have a good breakdown of the whole process? Like what happens during adjudication, how many jobs I need to apply for each week, what counts as suitable work, appeal deadlines if something goes wrong, etc. I want to make sure I'm doing everything right from the start instead of learning the hard way.
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Molly Hansen
The NYS Department of Labor process can definitely be overwhelming at first! Here's the basic flow: 1) File your initial claim online 2) Wait for monetary determination (shows your benefit amount) 3) File weekly claims every week even if pending 4) Complete 3 job search activities per week 5) Keep detailed records of everything. During adjudication they're verifying your separation reason and eligibility. Most important thing is never miss a weekly claim deadline and always report any work/income honestly.
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Connor Rupert
•Thanks! When you say 3 job search activities, does that mean 3 actual applications or can some be networking events, job fairs, etc?
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Molly Hansen
•Good question! It can be a mix - job applications, networking events, career workshops, even informational interviews count. Just keep detailed records of what you did, when, and contact info. The NYS Department of Labor can audit your job search log so documentation is key.
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Brady Clean
One thing that trips people up is the suitable work requirements. During your first 10 weeks you can be more selective about jobs (within reason), but after that the NYS Department of Labor expects you to accept work that pays at least 80% of your previous wage. Also if you turn down a job offer you need to report it and have a good reason or risk disqualification.
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Skylar Neal
•wait really?? I didn't know about the 10 week thing. I'm on week 8 and been pretty picky about what I apply for
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Vincent Bimbach
I had so much trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks. Calling the main number was useless - always busy or would hang up after being on hold forever. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Saved me probably 20+ hours of trying to call myself and got my issue resolved in one conversation.
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Kelsey Chin
•How much does something like that cost though? I'm already strapped for cash being unemployed
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Vincent Bimbach
•It's worth checking out their site for details, but honestly the time and stress it saved me was huge. When you're dealing with delayed benefits every day matters.
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Norah Quay
ugh the whole system is such a mess!! I've been waiting 5 weeks for my claim to get approved and still showing pending. Meanwhile bills are piling up and I can't get anyone on the phone to explain what's happening. The NYS Department of Labor website says to just keep filing weekly claims but gives no timeline for when things actually get processed.
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Molly Hansen
•5 weeks is definitely longer than normal. Have you checked if there are any pending issues in your online account that need additional documentation? Sometimes there's a questionnaire or form that needs to be completed that people miss.
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Skylar Neal
same boat here, trying to figure out all the rules. is there a difference between being laid off vs fired for attendance issues? asking for a friend... 😬
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Leo McDonald
Been through this twice unfortunately. Key things: always file on your assigned day of the week, never lie about anything even small stuff, keep copies of EVERYTHING, and if you work part-time while claiming report every penny. The NYS Department of Labor will eventually find out about unreported income and hit you with an overpayment that's way worse than just being honest upfront.
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