Does the federal government pay unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm really confused about who actually pays my unemployment benefits. My friend said the federal government funds unemployment but I thought it was all handled by NYS Department of Labor. When I look at my weekly claim payments they come from NYS but I'm wondering if there's federal money involved? Just trying to understand how this whole system works since I've been getting UI benefits for 6 weeks now.
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Anastasia Kozlov
It's actually a combination! The federal government provides funding and sets basic guidelines, but NYS Department of Labor administers the program and determines your specific benefit amount. Your weekly payments come from a state trust fund that's partially funded by federal money and employer taxes. The feds also provide extra funding during economic downturns.
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NeonNebula
•That makes sense! So NYS Department of Labor handles all the paperwork and claims but gets help from federal funding?
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Sean Kelly
yeah its confusing but basically federal sets the rules and gives money, nys does everything else like processing your weekly claims and job search requirements
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Zara Mirza
The federal-state partnership works like this: Federal Department of Labor sets minimum standards for things like work search requirements, but NYS Department of Labor can make them stricter. Your benefit amount is calculated using NY wages and NY formulas. During the pandemic there were special federal programs like PUA, but regular unemployment insurance has always been this hybrid system.
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Luca Russo
•Wait so if I'm having issues with my claim status being stuck in adjudication, that's a NYS Department of Labor problem not federal right? I've been trying to call for weeks but can't get through to anyone.
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Nia Harris
•Yes that's NYS Department of Labor. I had the same problem last month - couldn't reach anyone by phone. Someone here recommended this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. Check out claimyr.com, they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Finally got my adjudication resolved after using them.
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GalaxyGazer
This whole system is so bureaucratic! Why can't they just make it simple instead of having federal AND state involvement? No wonder people get confused about who to contact when there's problems.
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Mateo Sanchez
my cousin in florida gets unemployment too and she said her amounts different than mine even though we made similar money, guess thats the state vs federal thing
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