NYS Department of Labor unemployment rates dropping - what does this mean for my weekly claims?
I've been reading about unemployment rates being really low right now and I'm wondering how this affects people like me who are still filing weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor. Does a low unemployment rate make it harder to get approved for benefits or affect how long you can collect? I'm currently in my 12th week of unemployment and worried about what happens if the job market is supposedly so good but I'm still struggling to find work that matches my skills. Anyone know if NYS Department of Labor changes their requirements when unemployment is low?
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Zainab Omar
Low unemployment rates don't directly affect your individual claim eligibility or weekly benefit amount. NYS Department of Labor determines your benefits based on your work history and earnings, not current economic conditions. However, when unemployment is low, there may be increased scrutiny on job search requirements since theoretically more jobs are available.
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QuantumQuasar
•That makes sense about the job search requirements. I've been applying to everything but most want skills I don't have or pay way less than my previous job.
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Connor Gallagher
Actually low unemployment can affect benefit duration in some states but NY has pretty standard rules. Your benefits are tied to your base period wages regardless of current unemployment rates. The main thing that might change is job search enforcement - they might expect you to cast a wider net when jobs are supposedly plentiful.
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Yara Sayegh
•This is exactly what I experienced. When I was on unemployment last year during low rates, my caseworker was much more strict about my job search log and questioned why I wasn't accepting certain positions.
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Keisha Johnson
i've been having trouble reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor to ask questions like this. the phone lines are always busy even when unemployment is supposed to be low. you'd think they'd have more staff available when fewer people need help but apparently not!
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Paolo Longo
•I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual NYS Department of Labor agents by phone. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made a huge difference when I needed to clarify my job search requirements.
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CosmicCowboy
LOW unemployment is actually BAD for people collecting benefits because employers get pickier and expect you to take any job even if it's terrible pay or not in your field. The whole system assumes if unemployment is low then anyone can find work which isnt true!!
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Amina Diallo
•I feel this so much. Everyone acts like I should just take any minimum wage job even though I worked in accounting for 8 years before getting laid off.
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Yara Sayegh
One thing people don't realize is that low unemployment can actually make it HARDER to find a job in your field because companies aren't hiring as aggressively. They can afford to be super selective when there aren't many unemployed people around.
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