


Ask the community...
Be prepared for the job search requirements too! You'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of all your job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor can audit this at any time so keep detailed records.
If you run into issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor by phone (which happens a lot), I had good luck using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get connected to actual agents without waiting on hold forever. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They make it so complicated for students when we're the ones who need help the most. I went through this mess last year and it took forever to get approved even though I was clearly available for work around my class schedule. Just be prepared for a lot of paperwork and questions.
You should definitely apply! I'm a part-time student and got approved for partial benefits when my restaurant job cut my shifts. The important thing is being honest about your availability and actively job searching. Keep records of your job applications because they might ask for your job search log.
I was confused about this too when I had trouble reaching the NYS Department of Labor about my claim status. I kept seeing news about unemployment rates but my experience didn't match what they were reporting. Turns out the measuring and the benefits are completely different systems. If you need to actually talk to someone at NYS Department of Labor about claims, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that explains how it works.
The whole unemployment system is designed to make you give up honestly. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for months over an overpayment notice that makes NO SENSE. They say I didn't report work properly but I have screenshots of every weekly claim I filed. The bureaucracy is insane.
One thing that really helped me address my unemployment issues was understanding that different problems require different approaches. Job search requirement issues? Make sure you're logging everything in their online system. Adjudication delays? Usually means they need more info from you or your former employer. Overpayment notices? You have 30 days to appeal with documentation. The key is figuring out exactly which type of issue you're dealing with first.
Omar Fawaz
If you're struggling to get through to NYS Department of Labor about employer issues, I had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach someone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It's mainly for claimants but I used it when I couldn't get answers about a separation dispute and needed to speak with someone urgently. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Isabella Santos
•Interesting - I didn't know they helped with employer calls too. The NYS Department of Labor phone system is definitely frustrating when you need quick answers about claim disputes.
0 coins
Chloe Anderson
The whole system seems designed to favor employees over employers tbh. We document everything now - attendance, performance issues, policy violations. Because when someone files for unemployment after you fire them, you better have good documentation or NYS Department of Labor will side with the employee every time. It's like guilty until proven innocent.
0 coins
Diego Vargas
•Documentation is key! We learned this the hard way. Now we require written warnings and keep detailed records of all disciplinary actions.
0 coins