Why is unemployment such a big problem - NYS Department of Labor system constantly failing people
I've been watching friends and family struggle with unemployment claims for years and I'm starting to wonder why unemployment is such a massive problem in our system. The NYS Department of Labor website crashes constantly, people wait months for adjudication, job search requirements seem designed to trip people up, and don't even get me started on trying to actually reach someone on the phone. My sister just got disqualified after 8 weeks because she missed ONE job contact in her log even though she's been actively looking. Meanwhile my neighbor has been stuck in adjudication limbo for 6 weeks with no explanation. Is the whole unemployment system just broken by design or what? How are people supposed to survive while waiting for basic assistance they already paid into?
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Derek Olson
The system is definitely overwhelmed but there are legitimate reasons for the complexity. Adjudication exists to prevent fraud - they need to verify work history, separation reasons, and ongoing eligibility. The job search requirements ensure people are actively seeking work. That said, the technology infrastructure needs serious upgrades and staffing levels haven't kept up with demand since 2020.
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Danielle Mays
•But 6-8 weeks for adjudication is ridiculous when people can't pay rent. There has to be a better balance between fraud prevention and actually helping people who need it.
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Roger Romero
Your sister can appeal that disqualification! She has 30 days from the notice date. For one missing job contact, especially if she can show she was actively searching, there's a good chance of getting it overturned. Make sure she gathers all her job search documentation and files the appeal through her my.ny.gov account ASAP.
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Rachel Tao
•Thanks, I'll tell her to file the appeal. Do you know if she can keep claiming while the appeal is pending or does everything stop until it's resolved?
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Roger Romero
•She should continue filing her weekly claims even during the appeal process. If she wins the appeal, she'll get back payments for those weeks. If she stops filing, she might forfeit those potential benefits.
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Anna Kerber
honestly the whole system is a joke. ive been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for THREE WEEKS about my claim status and either get disconnected or told the wait time is over 2 hours. then when i finally wait the 2 hours they transfer me and i get disconnected again. its like they dont want to help anyone
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Niko Ramsey
•I had the same problem getting through to them until someone told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach NYS Department of Labor agents. They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got through to an agent the same day and got my adjudication issue resolved.
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Seraphina Delan
The unemployment system reflects deeper economic problems. When there aren't enough good jobs that pay living wages, more people need unemployment benefits. But then politicians underfund the system and act surprised when it can't handle the demand. It's a vicious cycle that keeps working people trapped.
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Jabari-Jo
•This exactly! Plus they make the job search requirements so strict that people get disqualified for tiny technicalities while corporations can post fake job listings with no consequences.
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Danielle Mays
I think part of the problem is that the NYS Department of Labor system wasn't designed for the modern economy. Gig work, remote jobs, seasonal employment - none of that fits neatly into their categories. Then they wonder why claims get stuck in adjudication when people's work history doesn't match their outdated forms.
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Derek Olson
•You're absolutely right about the gig economy challenges. The system is slowly adapting but it's taking way too long to catch up with how people actually work now.
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