NYS Department of Labor claim denied - how is unemployment a social problem affecting my community?
My unemployment claim got denied last month and I've been thinking about how this affects not just me but my whole neighborhood. I worked in retail for 8 years before getting laid off in December, filed my claim right away, but NYS Department of Labor said I was disqualified for 'voluntary separation' even though I got laid off due to store closure. Now I'm struggling to pay rent and my kids' school supplies. I see other families on my block going through similar situations - lost jobs, denied claims, can't afford basic needs. It feels like unemployment isn't just an individual problem but something that's hurting our entire community. Has anyone else noticed how unemployment denial creates ripple effects beyond just the person filing? I'm appealing the decision but wondering if there are resources that address unemployment as a broader social issue.
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Camila Castillo
You're absolutely right that unemployment creates community-wide impacts. When multiple families in an area lose income, local businesses suffer, property values decline, and social services get overwhelmed. For your appeal, make sure you have documentation proving the store closure was involuntary. NYS Department of Labor should have records of mass layoffs. The ripple effects you're seeing are real - unemployment leads to increased crime, mental health issues, and educational problems for children.
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Samuel Robinson
•Thank you for validating what I'm seeing. I do have the WARN notice from when our store closed, so hopefully that helps with the appeal. It's just frustrating that the system doesn't seem to recognize these broader impacts.
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Brianna Muhammad
been there with the denied claim situation and yes it definitely affects the whole family not just you. my neighbor went through 3 months of adjudication last year and their kids had to switch schools because they couldn't afford their apartment anymore. creates instability for everyone around them too
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JaylinCharles
The unemployment system in NY is overwhelmed which makes these social problems worse. When people can't get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks, they miss deadlines and lose benefits they're entitled to. I had to use a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach an agent about my adjudication issue. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Sometimes you need outside help to navigate the bureaucracy.
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Eloise Kendrick
•Never heard of that service but makes sense. The phone system is impossible - I've been trying to reach someone for weeks about my job search requirements.
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Lucas Schmidt
Unemployment is definitely a social problem because it affects community resources, increases poverty rates, and creates cycles of economic instability. Studies show areas with high unemployment see increased domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health crises. Your retail background actually puts you in a vulnerable position since that sector has been hit hard. The fact that NYS Department of Labor denied your claim for voluntary separation when you were clearly laid off shows how the system fails people during crisis periods.
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Freya Collins
ugh the whole system is broken!! they deny claims left and right and then wonder why homelessness is rising and families are falling apart. I was denied too for 'insufficient wages' even though I worked full time for 2 years. TOOK FOREVER to get it straightened out and by then I was already behind on everything. The stress alone makes you sick which costs the healthcare system more money
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LongPeri
•Sorry to hear about your situation. The insufficient wages denial usually means they couldn't verify your employment history properly. Did you eventually get it resolved?
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Eloise Kendrick
You raise good points about community impact. In my case I'm dealing with standby status because of seasonal work and even that creates uncertainty for planning family expenses. When people don't know if their unemployment will continue, they can't make stable housing or childcare decisions.
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