How to enjoy unemployment while meeting NYS Department of Labor requirements?
I know this sounds weird but I'm actually kind of relieved to be on unemployment right now. Got laid off from my marketing job last month and honestly the stress was killing me. My NYS Department of Labor claim got approved pretty quickly and I'm getting $504 a week which isn't bad. I know I have to do the job search stuff and file my weekly claims but is it wrong that I'm kind of enjoying having time to breathe? Anyone else feel guilty about not being miserable on unemployment? I'm still looking for work obviously but for the first time in years I can sleep in and not check emails constantly.
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Sophia Carter
There's nothing wrong with taking care of your mental health! Just make sure you're documenting your job search activities properly for NYS Department of Labor. You need 3 work search contacts per week and they can audit your records. Use the time productively - maybe learn new skills or get certifications that will help your next job search.
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Aaron Boston
•Thanks! I've been keeping a spreadsheet of all my applications. Should I be doing anything else besides the basic job search log?
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Chloe Zhang
honestly i felt the same way when i got laid off from retail hell last year lol. just dont get too comfortable because unemployment doesnt last forever and the job market is still competitive
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Brandon Parker
I understand the relief aspect - burnout is real. But remember that unemployment benefits are meant to be temporary support while you actively search for work. The NYS Department of Labor requires genuine job search efforts, not just going through the motions. Use this time to network, update your skills, and really focus on finding a better position than what you had before.
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Adriana Cohn
•This is so important! I made the mistake of just doing the minimum job search requirements and it took me 8 months to find something decent. Really wish I had been more strategic about it.
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Jace Caspullo
I had a similar experience when I was between jobs for 4 months. The break was honestly what I needed after years of toxic workplace stress. But I'll tell you what really helped me was when I had trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor about extending my benefits. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to unemployment agents. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows exactly how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Aaron Boston
•Interesting, I've never heard of that. Did you actually talk to a real person through it?
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Jace Caspullo
•Yeah, they connected me to an actual NYS Department of Labor agent who was able to answer my questions about my claim status. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Melody Miles
Don't feel guilty but also don't get complacent. The job market changes fast and you want to find something before your benefits run out. I enjoyed my time off too but looking back I wish I had been more aggressive about networking during those first few weeks when I was feeling good about everything.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
totally get this! after my restaurant job ended i slept for like a week straight. just remember to keep filing those weekly claims on time because missing even one can mess up your whole claim
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