What does unemployment insurance mean for NYS Department of Labor claims?
I keep seeing the term 'unemployment insurance' everywhere but I'm honestly confused about what it actually means in practice. I lost my job two weeks ago and everyone keeps telling me to file for unemployment insurance but I don't really understand what that covers or how it works. Is unemployment insurance the same thing as regular unemployment benefits? Does NYS Department of Labor handle all unemployment insurance claims? I feel like I should know this but the terminology is confusing me and I want to make sure I'm applying for the right thing.
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Sofia Peña
Unemployment insurance (UI) is basically the formal name for what most people just call 'unemployment benefits.' It's insurance that you and your employer paid into while you were working through payroll taxes. When you lose your job through no fault of your own, you can file a claim with NYS Department of Labor to receive weekly payments while you look for new work. The insurance part means it's a safety net system - you're essentially collecting on insurance you already paid for.
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Hunter Hampton
•That makes so much more sense! So when I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor, I'm actually filing for unemployment insurance benefits?
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Aaron Boston
yeah its the same thing, unemployment insurance = unemployment benefits. everyone just calls it different names but its all through NYS Department of Labor website. you file your claim and if approved you get weekly payments
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Sophia Carter
To add some detail - unemployment insurance in New York covers about 50% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum amount that changes yearly. You need to meet certain requirements like having worked enough quarters and earning enough wages. The NYS Department of Labor determines your eligibility based on your work history and the reason you lost your job. You'll also need to complete weekly claims and meet job search requirements to continue receiving benefits.
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Hunter Hampton
•How do I know if I've worked enough quarters to qualify? I was at my last job for about 8 months.
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Sophia Carter
•NYS Department of Labor looks at your base period, which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Eight months should likely qualify you, but they'll calculate it based on your actual earnings during those quarters.
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Chloe Zhang
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your unemployment insurance eligibility, I had good luck using Claimyr at claimyr.com. They helped me get connected to an actual agent when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
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Brandon Parker
•Is that like a paid service? I'm already worried about money since I lost my job.
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Adriana Cohn
The whole unemployment insurance system is such a mess though. Like why do they make the terminology so confusing? Half the time NYS Department of Labor uses different terms on different pages of their website. And don't even get me started on how long adjudication takes...
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Jace Caspullo
•I agree the system could be clearer but at least the benefits are there when you need them. Better than having no safety net at all.
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