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The unemployment rate being lower in 2023 doesn't really affect individual claim processing times. What matters more is whether your brother has any issues that need adjudication - like if he was fired vs laid off, or if there are any wage discrepancies. Manufacturing layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for NYS Department of Labor to approve.
UGH this whole system is so confusing! I've been trying to get through to someone at NYS Department of Labor for days to ask questions about my claim but their phone lines are always busy. Does anyone know a better way to actually talk to a real person there?
I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It's way easier than sitting on hold for hours. I used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and finally got answers.
I had such a nightmare trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation last year. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent who could explain my specific situation. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was so much easier than trying to call myself.
Just want to add that the maximum can change each year so always check the current rates. Also restaurant workers sometimes have issues with the way tips are reported affecting their benefit calculation, so make sure all your tip income was properly reported to get the full benefit amount you're entitled to.
The technical definition matters for certain programs and statistics. Your unemployment spell starts when you become unemployed and ends when you return to work, not when you start or stop filing claims. If you need to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor to clarify this for your specific situation, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through their phone system. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Much easier than trying to call directly.
The whole system is so confusing with all these technical terms!! Why can't they just ask 'how long have you been out of work' instead of using fancy terminology like unemployment spell?? Makes it sound like we're casting magic or something
Amara Nnamani
I had such a hard time getting through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Spent hours calling and either got busy signals or got disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to get my case reviewed.
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Giovanni Mancini
•interesting, never heard of that before. was it expensive?
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Amara Nnamani
•Worth it for me since I couldn't afford to keep missing work trying to call them. Much easier than sitting on hold for hours.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
just apply online at labor.ny.gov, its not that complicated. you'll need to do weekly claims every week too or they stop paying you
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