What is RESEA unemployment requirement from NYS Department of Labor - confused about appointment
I got a letter from NYS Department of Labor saying I have to attend something called RESEA but I have no idea what this means. The letter says it's mandatory for my unemployment benefits but doesn't really explain what happens at the appointment. Has anyone been through this? I'm worried if I mess something up they'll cut off my benefits. The appointment is next week and I'm not sure what to bring or what they're going to ask me.
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Everett Tutum
RESEA stands for Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment. It's basically a one-on-one meeting with a counselor to help you with job search strategies and make sure you're meeting all the requirements for unemployment. They'll review your work search activities, help update your resume, and discuss training opportunities. Just bring your job search log, resume, and any documentation of work you've applied for. It's actually helpful - not punitive.
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Aria Khan
•Thank you! That sounds way less scary than I thought. Do they check every single job application I've made or just ask general questions about my search?
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Sunny Wang
yeah i had mine last month, its not too bad. they mostly want to see that youre actually looking for work and not just collecting benefits. bring your job search records for sure and be ready to talk about what kind of jobs youre applying for
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Hugh Intensity
The RESEA program is required for certain unemployment claimants - usually those who are likely to exhaust their benefits or have been unemployed for a while. If you don't attend, they will suspend your unemployment payments until you reschedule and complete the appointment. The good news is they often have resources available like job fairs, training programs, and networking events that can actually help you find work faster.
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Effie Alexander
•Wait, they can suspend benefits just for missing one appointment? That seems harsh. What if you have a legitimate emergency?
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Hugh Intensity
•Yes, but you can reschedule if you have a valid reason. Just make sure to call them before your scheduled appointment time if something comes up. They're usually understanding about genuine emergencies or illness.
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Melissa Lin
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks about my RESEA appointment because the date conflicts with a job interview. Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? This is so frustrating when they threaten to cut benefits if you miss the appointment but won't let you reschedule.
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Lydia Santiago
•I had the same problem with reaching NYS Department of Labor until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to actual agents - you just go to claimyr.com and they handle the calling for you. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to reschedule my RESEA appointment in like 20 minutes after weeks of trying on my own.
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Romeo Quest
The whole RESEA thing is just another way for them to make it harder to get benefits. They act like we're not already stressed enough about being unemployed. Now we have to jump through even more hoops just to prove we deserve help.
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Everett Tutum
•I understand the frustration, but honestly the RESEA counselor I worked with was really helpful. She connected me with a training program that led to my current job. Sometimes these programs actually do what they're supposed to do.
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Liam Cortez
I just went through my RESEA appointment last week and wanted to share what actually happens since I was nervous too. The counselor was really nice and it felt more like a helpful consultation than an interrogation. They asked about my job search strategy, looked at my resume, and suggested some improvements. They also told me about local job fairs and online resources I didn't know about. The whole thing took about 45 minutes. Just bring documentation of your job applications (I printed out confirmations/screenshots), your resume, and be honest about what you're looking for. They're there to help you find work, not trip you up.
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Brianna Muhammad
•This is so reassuring to hear! I've been anxious about my upcoming RESEA appointment too. Did they have any specific requirements about how many job applications you need to show them, or were they more flexible about it? I'm worried I might not have enough documentation even though I've been actively searching.
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Omar Zaki
•@Brianna Muhammad They weren t'super strict about numbers in my experience. I think I had maybe 8-10 applications documented over the past few weeks and that was fine. What seemed to matter more was that I could explain my search strategy and show I was being thoughtful about the types of positions I was applying for. The counselor was more interested in helping me improve my approach than counting applications. As long as you re'genuinely looking and can talk about what you ve'been doing, you should be good!
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Gracie Maribelle
•@Omar Zaki thanks
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Gracie Maribelle
•@Omar Zaki thank you for the info
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Melody Miles
I had my RESEA appointment a few months ago and it was actually a positive experience. The counselor helped me realize I was applying for jobs that were either too broad or too narrow for my skills. They showed me how to use the NYS job search website more effectively and connected me with a free resume workshop. One tip - if you've been doing any networking, informational interviews, or attending job-related events, bring documentation of those too. They count toward your work search activities and show you're being proactive. The counselor seemed impressed that I was doing more than just submitting online applications.
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GalaxyGuardian
•That's really helpful advice about documenting networking activities! I hadn't thought about bringing proof of informational interviews or job-related events. I've been focusing so much on just tracking my online applications that I forgot those other activities count too. Do you remember what kind of documentation they wanted for those activities - like just notes about who you talked to and when, or something more formal?
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