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I think unemployment is around 4% statewide but honestly who knows with all the different ways they count it. The important thing is you qualify if you lost your job through no fault of your own.
When I was trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation, I couldn't reach anyone for weeks. The phone lines are always busy and the online chat never worked. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration since I needed to verify my wages were calculated correctly.
just filed last week and mine went through pretty quick, maybe depends on your employer? idk about unemployment rates but my friend in rochester said his took forever
To directly answer your question - according to recent NYS Department of Labor data, some Adirondack and Southern Tier counties typically show higher unemployment rates, often in the 6-8% range compared to 3-4% in metro areas. But for your claim processing, focus on making sure you're filing your weekly claims on time and have all your employment documentation ready in case they request it during adjudication.
just apply man, dont overthink it. worst case they say no but at least youll know. the requirements arent that hard if you worked a real job for several months
Good luck with your application! The restaurant industry layoffs are tough but unemployment benefits should help bridge the gap while you find something new. Make sure to certify for your weekly benefits every week once you're approved - missing a week can cause payment delays.
Benjamin Kim
omg yes the definitions are SO confusing! like what even is the difference between being laid off vs fired vs quitting?? they act like its obvious but its not
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Alice Fleming
•Laid off means your employer eliminated your position due to business reasons (you qualify). Fired for misconduct means you did something wrong (usually disqualifies you). Quitting means you chose to leave (usually disqualifies unless you had good cause). The distinction matters because it determines if you qualify for benefits.
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Samantha Howard
The federal Department of Labor actually sets a lot of these standards that states like New York have to follow. It's not just NYS Department of Labor being difficult - they have to comply with federal guidelines about who can receive unemployment insurance. The whole system is designed around the principle that UI is temporary assistance for people between jobs, not long-term support for people who can't or don't want to work.
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