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i think i got the whole thing backward when i first filed lol. thought my benefit would be higher cuz i was looking at my yearly total not the quarter thing. was disappointed when the real amount came through
To summarize for anyone else with the same question: 1. The base period (full year) determines if you're eligible for benefits 2. Your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest quarter earnings within that base period 3. The formula is approximately 1/26 of your highest quarter earnings 4. The maximum weekly benefit in NY for 2025 is $650 5. If your determination seems wrong, you can request a reconsideration Hope this helps clear things up!
One last thing to try: the NYSDOL has a Twitter account (@NYSLabor) where they sometimes respond to people having issues. Some folks have had success sending them a direct message with their contact info (never include your SSN or claim ID in public tweets). Worth a shot while pursuing the other avenues mentioned.
I'll try that too! At this point I'm willing to try anything. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I'm going to: 1. Contact my state rep/senator 2. Try that Claimyr service to get through by phone 3. Send a DM to the NYSDOL Twitter 4. Look into visiting an office in person I'll update if any of these work!
Quick update: I actually got mine resolved finally. Called using that service I mentioned, got through to someone who told me my claim had been stuck because they needed proof I'd been searching for work, but the notification never got sent to me due to a "system error." Once I uploaded my job search records, my claim was approved within a week and I got all my backpay. The whole thing could have been resolved in 5 minutes if I could have just gotten someone on the phone months ago. The system is beyond broken.
I think everyone's missing the real problem here - the entire NY unemployment system is DELIBERATELY DESIGNED to be impossible to navigate. They WANT people to give up so they don't have to pay benefits. It's been this way for years, and they have no incentive to fix it because frustrated people eventually stop trying. It's not a broken system - it's working exactly as intended.
While I understand the frustration, there's no evidence the system is deliberately designed to fail. Most problems stem from outdated technology infrastructure and understaffing rather than malicious intent. The 2025 budget actually includes significant funding to modernize these systems, though implementation will take time.
Ha! They've been promising to "modernize" for YEARS. Remember the "improved" system they rolled out in 2023? Made things even WORSE! And notice how all these "technical difficulties" always seem to prevent people from getting money, never from filing their weekly certifications? Funny how that works...
Thanks everyone for your responses and suggestions! After all this hassle, my card finally arrived today - almost 3 weeks after I was approved. For anyone else dealing with KeyBank card issues, I'm going to try their direct line next time like @profile1 suggested. And I've set up direct deposit as a backup like @profile4 recommended. This whole system is so frustrating, but at least we can help each other navigate it!
For anyone still dealing with this: I work with a community assistance program, and we're seeing this issue affect quite a few people. The NYSDOL is processing these delayed payments in batches based on certification date. If you certified on the 7th like the original poster, you should see your payment by tomorrow or Friday at the latest. The technical issue was related to the system not properly recognizing certifications that crossed the calendar year boundary. It's something they've actually encountered in previous years as well. One important note: make sure your direct deposit information is current and accurate. Some people have had their payments delayed further because they changed banks recently but didn't update their profile.
I'm having a similar issue but mine says I've exhausted my benefits?? But I've only been collecting for 8 weeks! Does anyone know if this could be related to the same glitch? I'm freaking out because I have no idea what's going on and I NEED this money for my car payment!!
That sounds like a different issue, but could still be related to the system glitches happening right now. I'd recommend creating a new post specifically about the "exhausted benefits" message so people with that exact experience can help you. In the meantime, definitely try to reach an agent to explain your specific situation.
Camila Jordan
how do you even check what they're claiming? my letter didnt have ANY breakdown showing how they calculated the amount!!
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Andrew Pinnock
•You'll need to call and request an itemized statement. The letter should have a reference number - keep that handy. You can also log into your NY.gov account and check your tax documents there. If you have your 2021 tax return and 1099-G, you can calculate roughly what you should owe by multiplying your unemployment income by your tax bracket percentage (minus whatever was already withheld).
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Ella Lewis
Update: I finally got through to someone at the tax department! For anyone else dealing with this, I set up a 36-month payment plan ($36/month) which is much more manageable than the lump sum. They verified the amount was correct - turns out I had selected federal withholding but not state withholding when I applied for unemployment. Lesson learned the hard way!
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Brianna Schmidt
•thanks for updating! gonna call tomorrow and try to do the same thing. $36/month sounds way more doable.
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Alexis Renard
•Excellent resolution! Just make sure to keep documentation of the payment plan agreement. Sometimes there can be disconnect between the payment processing department and collections. A 36-month plan is the maximum term they usually offer, so you got the best possible outcome.
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