NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits - is unemployment really a social problem or personal issue?
I've been on unemployment for 6 months now and dealing with the NYS Department of Labor system has me thinking... everyone talks about unemployment like it's some kind of personal failing, but after going through this whole process and seeing how many people are struggling to find work despite wanting to work, I'm starting to wonder if unemployment is actually more of a social problem than an individual one. The job search requirements make it seem like it's all on us, but there's clearly not enough good jobs for everyone who needs them. Anyone else think about this while filing their weekly claims?
11 comments
Join the conversation
Khalil Urso
You're absolutely right to think about this. Unemployment is definitely both an individual challenge AND a broader social issue. The NYS Department of Labor requires job search activities because they need to show you're actively seeking work, but that doesn't mean unemployment itself is a personal failure. Economic downturns, industry changes, and automation all create unemployment that has nothing to do with individual effort or skills.
0 coins
Nasira Ibanez
•That's what I've been thinking! I'm doing everything right with my job search log and weekly claims, but there just aren't enough openings in my field right now.
0 coins
Myles Regis
idk man sounds like making excuses to me... if you really wanted a job you'd find something even if its not perfect
0 coins
Brian Downey
•That's a pretty harsh take. The unemployment system exists precisely because sometimes people can't find work through no fault of their own. The NYS Department of Labor wouldn't have these programs if it was just about personal motivation.
0 coins
Jacinda Yu
I struggled with this exact question when I was dealing with my claim getting stuck in adjudication for weeks. The whole experience made me realize how broken the system can be. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a NYS Department of Labor agent - there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. But honestly, the fact that we need third-party services just to talk to someone about our benefits says a lot about the systemic issues.
0 coins
Landon Flounder
•Wait, you actually got through to someone? I've been trying to call about my adjudication status for weeks with no luck.
0 coins
Jacinda Yu
•Yeah, the Claimyr thing actually worked for me. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on. But the bigger point is we shouldn't need workarounds like this in the first place.
0 coins
Callum Savage
THIS!! The whole unemployment system treats us like we're lazy or trying to scam the system when most of us just want to work and pay our bills. The job search requirements are reasonable but acting like unemployment is a personal moral failing is BS.
0 coins
Ally Tailer
•exactly, like i'm doing my three job contacts per week and everything but that doesn't mean there are actually three good jobs available every week
0 coins
Khalil Urso
The research is pretty clear that unemployment has significant social and economic causes beyond individual factors. Things like geographic job mismatches, skills gaps created by technological change, and cyclical economic downturns all contribute. The NYS Department of Labor's job search requirements are about maintaining work-seeking behavior, not because unemployment is inherently a personal choice.
0 coins
Nasira Ibanez
•This makes me feel a lot better about my situation. I was starting to internalize all the criticism about people on unemployment.
0 coins