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I had issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I had questions about coordinating my state and federal filings. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually reach someone at the department who could explain how my state account status affects the federal credit. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works for getting through to agents.
The whole system is broken honestly. They make it so hard to get help when you're already struggling financially. I don't understand why they can't just hire more people to process claims faster instead of making everyone wait months for basic unemployment benefits.
Don't forget about the job search requirement! You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. You can do this through the NYS Department of Labor jobs website or other approved methods. They don't always check but if they do audit you and you don't have proper documentation, you could lose benefits.
Good point! What counts as a valid job search contact? Just applying to jobs or does networking count too?
Just wanted to share that my claim got approved yesterday after exactly 18 days. I was also worried when it hit the 2 week mark with no updates, but it came through. Hang in there!
The timing really depends on your specific situation. If you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily, expect delays while they investigate. Layoffs usually process faster since there's less to verify. My brother got his approved in 12 days but my cousin who got fired is still waiting after a month because they're doing interviews with witnesses and stuff.
Jamal Carter
Just be patient, the system works but it's slow. I got my first payment exactly 3 weeks after filing. The waiting is the worst part but once it starts the payments come regularly every week.
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Mei Liu
UGH the NYS Department of Labor is THE WORST with communication! They leave you hanging with zero updates and expect you to just wait indefinitely. I swear they do this on purpose to discourage people from claiming benefits they're entitled to!!
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Liam O'Donnell
•I feel you on the frustration but complaining won't speed up the process. OP just needs to wait it out.
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