Who is responsible for unemployment benefits in NYS - confused about NYS Department of Labor roles
I'm really confused about who handles what with unemployment in New York State. My claim got denied and I'm not sure if I should be contacting NYS Department of Labor directly or if there's someone else responsible for these decisions? The notice I got mentions appeals but doesn't clearly explain who actually makes these determinations. I've been out of work for 6 weeks and getting really stressed about this whole process. Can someone break down who is responsible for unemployment decisions and where I should be directing my questions?
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Ethan Taylor
NYS Department of Labor is the primary agency responsible for unemployment insurance in New York. They handle initial claims, weekly certifications, adjudication, and appeals. If your claim was denied, you received that decision from NYS Department of Labor. You have the right to appeal within 30 days of the denial notice date. The appeal goes to an Administrative Law Judge who works within the NYS Department of Labor system but makes independent decisions.
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Aisha Khan
•Thank you! So when I appeal, it stays within NYS Department of Labor but goes to a different person? That makes more sense.
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Yuki Ito
Yeah, NYS Department of Labor runs the whole show for unemployment. But honestly, getting through to them is nearly impossible with their phone system. I spent weeks trying to reach someone about my adjudication. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to NYS Department of Labor agents. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made all the difference for me when I needed to discuss my claim status.
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Carmen Lopez
•Really? How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call NYS Department of Labor for three weeks about my pending claim.
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Yuki Ito
•They basically handle the calling process for you and get you connected to an actual NYS Department of Labor representative. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.
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AstroAdventurer
I thought the federal government was involved too? Like doesn't the US Department of Labor have some oversight over state unemployment programs? I'm so lost with all these different agencies and who does what.
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Ethan Taylor
•Federal DOL provides guidelines and funding, but day-to-day administration is handled by each state. In NY, that's NYS Department of Labor exclusively. Your claims, appeals, and payments all come from the state level.
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Andre Dupont
The whole system is a mess if you ask me. NYS Department of Labor makes these arbitrary decisions and then you have to jump through hoops to appeal. I've been fighting a disqualification for two months and still haven't gotten a hearing date. They're responsible alright - responsible for making people's lives miserable!
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•I feel you on that. The wait times for appeals are ridiculous. But at least we know it's all within NYS Department of Labor so we're not bouncing between different agencies.
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Jamal Wilson
Just to be clear - if you need to file weekly claims, check your payment history, or get information about job search requirements, that's all NYS Department of Labor through their online portal at my.ny.gov. Don't waste time calling other agencies.
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Ethan Moore
@Aisha Khan - I went through a similar situation last year with a denial and the appeals process. Just wanted to add that when you file your appeal with NYS Department of Labor, make sure to include any additional documentation that supports your case - pay stubs, termination letter, etc. The Administrative Law Judge will review everything fresh, not just what was in your original claim. Also, you can represent yourself or bring someone to help advocate for you during the hearing. Don't give up - many denials get overturned on appeal when people can actually explain their situation properly. The initial determination process is pretty automated, but the appeals hearing gives you a real chance to present your case to a human being.
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