What does unemployment do - confused about NYS Department of Labor benefits
I just lost my job last week and everyone keeps telling me to file for unemployment but I honestly don't understand what unemployment actually does. Like what am I supposed to get from NYS Department of Labor? Is it just money or are there other things? My friend said something about job search requirements but I'm not sure what that means. Can someone explain what unemployment benefits actually cover and what I need to do to get them?
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Amara Adebayo
Unemployment insurance (UI) through NYS Department of Labor provides temporary financial assistance while you're looking for work. You'll receive weekly payments based on your previous earnings, but you have to meet certain requirements like actively searching for jobs and reporting your weekly activities. The current maximum weekly benefit is around $504 but most people get less depending on what they earned before.
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PixelWarrior
•Oh okay so it's not just free money, I actually have to prove I'm looking for work? How do they check that?
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Giovanni Rossi
Yes you need to do job searches every week and keep a log of where you applied. NYS Department of Labor requires at least 3 job contacts per week unless you're on standby status with your employer. You also have to file a weekly claim every week to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work. If you don't do the weekly claim you won't get paid for that week.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•what happens if you mess up the weekly claim? i accidentally put the wrong dates once
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Giovanni Rossi
•Usually they'll just ask you to correct it but if there are major discrepancies it could trigger an adjudication review which delays your payments.
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Dylan Evans
I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and honestly the system is confusing as hell. They don't explain anything clearly and when you call them you get different answers from different people. The job search thing is basically busywork - you apply to 3 jobs a week and document it but half the time the jobs aren't even real or appropriate for your skills.
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Sofia Gomez
•I had trouble getting through to them too until someone told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you reach actual NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.
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StormChaser
just apply online at my.ny.gov its not that hard
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PixelWarrior
•I know how to apply I just wanted to understand what I'm applying FOR before I do it
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Dmitry Petrov
Been there! When I first filed I was totally lost too. Basically unemployment gives you weekly payments while you look for a new job, but there are rules. You have to be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work. If you turn down a suitable job offer they can disqualify you. The payments usually last up to 26 weeks unless there are extensions.
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