


Ask the community...
The real issue is when people get comfortable and stop seriously looking. I've seen people drag out their claims and then struggle when benefits end. As long as you're meeting the NYS Department of Labor work search requirements and genuinely pursuing opportunities, you're fine. Just don't get complacent.
Wait, can employers just contest any claim they want?? That seems unfair if you were actually laid off. What if they're just trying to avoid paying into the unemployment system?
I had trouble reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor when my claim was contested. Kept getting busy signals for weeks. Finally used claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent who could explain the process and check my claim status. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Honestly saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.
ugh the whole system is such a pain though. I tried calling NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about partial benefits and spent literally 2 hours on hold before getting disconnected. their phone system is THE WORST
I had the same problem trying to reach someone at NYS Department of Labor! Super frustrating when you just need a quick answer. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to unemployment agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.
wait so if you work part time you can still get unemployment?? I thought you had to be completely unemployed to get benefits. this changes everything for me because my job cut everyone to 20 hours a week
The whole system is designed to deny people!!! They use confusing language like 'low unemployment is bad' when what they really mean is you're not available enough for their standards. It's all about making you jump through hoops and hope you give up. Keep fighting it!
Wait I'm confused too - how can low unemployment be bad for getting benefits? That doesn't make any sense to me either.
Jean Claude
If your cousin is having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to understand her denial, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me understand why my claim was initially flagged and what I needed to do to fix it. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to sort these things out.
0 coins
Charity Cohan
•never heard of that but honestly anything is better than trying to call the regular number and getting hung up on
0 coins
Josef Tearle
The system is SO unfair. They deny people for the stupidest reasons and then make you jump through hoops to appeal. I know someone who got denied because they marked that they were 'available for part-time work only' thinking it would help them get something faster, but apparently that disqualifies you completely. You have to be available for full-time work even if you don't want it.
0 coins
Talia Klein
•Wait really? You can't say you only want part-time? That seems backwards.
0 coins
Maxwell St. Laurent
•That's correct - you must be able and available for full-time work to qualify for unemployment benefits. The logic is that if you're limiting your availability, you're not truly unemployed through no fault of your own.
0 coins