Why unemployment benefits create problems - NYS Department of Labor system issues I've experienced
I've been dealing with the NYS Department of Labor unemployment system for 8 months now and honestly I'm starting to think why unemployment is bad for people like me. Don't get me wrong, I needed the money when I got laid off from my warehouse job, but this whole process has been a nightmare. My claim got stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks, then I had an overpayment issue because apparently I reported my part-time work wrong on my weekly claims. Now I owe them back $2,100 and my new claim is on hold again. The job search requirements are making me apply to jobs I'm not qualified for just to meet the 3 contacts per week. Has anyone else felt like the unemployment system created more stress than just being unemployed? I'm wondering if I should have just skipped filing altogether.
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Alexis Renard
I understand your frustration, but unemployment benefits exist as a safety net for exactly your situation. The issues you're describing are system problems, not fundamental flaws with unemployment insurance. Adjudication delays happen when there are questions about your separation from work or work search activities. For your overpayment, you have appeal rights if you believe the determination was incorrect. The job search requirement of 3 work contacts per week is designed to help you return to work faster, but you should focus on positions that match your skills and experience level.
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Brianna Schmidt
•Thanks for the response but honestly the 'safety net' feels more like quicksand sometimes. How do I even start an appeal for the overpayment when I can't get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor?
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Camila Jordan
You need to request a phone appointment through your ny.gov account instead of calling the general number. Go to your unemployment services dashboard and look for 'Request Callback' option. For the overpayment appeal, you have 30 days from the notice date to file. The form is on the NYS Department of Labor website under appeals section. Make sure you document everything - your work hours, wages reported, and when you reported them on your weekly claims.
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Brianna Schmidt
•I tried the callback option twice and never got a call back. This is exactly what I mean about the system being broken.
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Tyler Lefleur
Same boat here. Been waiting 3 months for my adjudication to clear and I'm about to lose my apartment. The system is definitely broken when people who actually need help can't get it.
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Madeline Blaze
I had similar issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor agents until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual person. I was skeptical at first but watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI) and decided to try it. Got through to someone the same day and finally got my adjudication issue resolved after being stuck for 2 months. Might be worth checking out for your callback situation.
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Brianna Schmidt
•Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?
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Madeline Blaze
•It's legit - they don't ask for your personal info or login details. They just dial the NYS Department of Labor number repeatedly until they get through, then conference you in. Saved me tons of frustration.
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Max Knight
look the unemployment system has always been messed up but its better than having nothing at all. i went through this same stuff last year with the overpayments and adjudication BS but eventually it all worked out
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Emma Swift
OMG yes! The stress of dealing with NYS Department of Labor is worse than being unemployed sometimes. I had panic attacks every time I had to file my weekly claim because I was so worried about making a mistake.
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Alexis Renard
•If you're experiencing anxiety about filing weekly claims, consider printing out the questions beforehand and preparing your answers. The most common mistakes happen when people rush through the work search reporting section.
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