Why is unemployment important when filing NYS Department of Labor weekly claims?
I'm confused about something basic here. When I file my weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor, they keep asking about my unemployment status and if I'm actively looking for work. I get that I need benefits to pay bills, but why is unemployment itself considered 'important' by the system? Like what's the bigger picture here? I've been on UI for 6 weeks now and just want to understand what NYS Department of Labor is really tracking when they ask all these questions every week. Is there some economic reason they care so much about unemployment rates?
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Savanna Franklin
Unemployment insurance serves multiple purposes beyond just helping individuals. For NYS Department of Labor, tracking unemployment helps measure economic health, allocate resources, and determine funding needs. Your weekly claims data feeds into state and federal employment statistics. The job search requirements ensure the system maintains its purpose as temporary assistance while you transition back to work. It's designed to stabilize both individual finances and the broader economy during downturns.
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Sergio Neal
•That makes sense about the data collection. I didn't realize my weekly claims were part of bigger economic tracking.
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Juan Moreno
From a practical standpoint, NYS Department of Labor needs to verify you're genuinely unemployed through no fault of your own and actively seeking work. This prevents fraud and ensures benefits go to people who truly need temporary support. The weekly certification process where you report job search activities isn't just bureaucracy - it's how they confirm you're still eligible and haven't found work yet. Without these checks, the system would be overwhelmed with fraudulent claims.
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Amy Fleming
•exactly this! I know someone who got caught not reporting work and had to pay back like $4000 in overpayments
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Alice Pierce
honestly the whole system is designed to make you jump through hoops. yeah unemployment is 'important' because it keeps people from becoming homeless but NYS Department of Labor makes it so complicated with all the job search logs and weekly questions. half the time their website crashes when you try to file anyway
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Esteban Tate
•I had major issues reaching NYS Department of Labor when my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks. Couldn't get through on the phone no matter how many times I called. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Worth checking out if you're having contact issues with NYS Department of Labor.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
wait so when I report that I'm unemployed each week, that goes into like government statistics? I thought it was just for my claim processing
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Savanna Franklin
•Yes, your claim data contributes to unemployment statistics that influence economic policy decisions at state and federal levels.
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