Who decides if you get unemployment benefits through NYS Department of Labor?
I'm really confused about the whole unemployment approval process. I filed my claim last week and it's showing pending status. Who actually makes the decision about whether I qualify for benefits? Is it just some computer algorithm or do real people at NYS Department of Labor review my case? I'm worried because my last job ended kind of weird - I was basically forced to quit because they cut my hours to like 5 per week. Will someone understand that situation or will the system just see 'quit' and deny me automatically?
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Yara Elias
NYS Department of Labor claims examiners review your application, not just computers. They look at your work history, reason for separation, and wages. For your situation where hours were cut drastically, that could qualify as constructive dismissal - you should have documented this when filing. The examiner will contact your employer to verify the circumstances.
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Connor Byrne
•Thanks! I did mention the hour cuts in my application. How long does it usually take for an examiner to review everything?
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QuantumQuasar
same thing happened to me, they cut my hours from 40 to 8 per week and i had no choice but to quit. took about 3 weeks for them to approve my claim after they investigated
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Keisha Jackson
•Wait, you can get unemployment if you quit? I thought that automatically disqualified you. This is confusing.
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Paolo Moretti
The decision process involves several steps: 1) Initial computer screening for basic eligibility (wages, work history) 2) Claims examiner review for separation issues 3) Employer response period 4) Final determination. If there's any dispute about why you left, it goes to adjudication where a specialist reviews all evidence from both sides.
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Connor Byrne
•What happens during adjudication? Do I need to provide more documentation?
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Paolo Moretti
•During adjudication, they may request additional information from you and your employer. Keep records of everything - schedule changes, communications about hour cuts, any written notices. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case.
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Amina Diop
I had trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor when my claim was under review and kept getting disconnected. Found out about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to call myself.
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Oliver Weber
•Never heard of that. Is it legit or just another scam?
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Amina Diop
•It's legitimate - they just help you navigate the phone system to reach real NYS Department of Labor staff. Was helpful when I needed to check my claim status during adjudication.
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Natasha Romanova
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A MESS!!! They make you jump through hoops and then some random person decides your fate. I got denied even though my employer laid me off and it took MONTHS to get it overturned. The appeals process is ridiculous too.
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NebulaNinja
•Ugh that sounds awful! Did you eventually get your benefits?
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Keisha Jackson
So wait, if I understand correctly - a real person reviews each claim? That's actually kind of reassuring. I thought it was all automated these days.
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