If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor to get answers about your specific situation, I had good luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual agent instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped me get clarity on my eligibility questions.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify, there's usually a waiting week before benefits start. So don't panic if you don't see payments right away after filing. Also, make sure you have all your employment info ready - dates of employment, employer addresses, reason for separation, etc. NYS Department of Labor will need this for each job you've had in the past 18 months. The online application saves your progress so you can come back to it if you need to gather documents.

One more thing - if your employer is disputing the claim, you can request an expedited hearing by calling the hearings division directly. That number is separate from the main NYS Department of Labor line and sometimes you can get through easier. If there's a legitimate dispute, a hearing might actually be faster than waiting for adjudication to complete.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 5 weeks in adjudication with zero communication from NYS DOL. What's really frustrating is that they don't even tell you what specific issue triggered the review. I've tried the callback system but it never actually calls back. Has anyone had success contacting their local state assembly member's office? I heard they sometimes have staff who can reach out to the department on your behalf when constituents are facing hardship due to delays.

For immediate help, also try contacting your state assemblyperson's office. They often have staff who can make inquiries with NYS Department of Labor on your behalf. It's another avenue to solve unemployment problem when normal channels aren't working. Many people don't realize elected officials' offices can intervene in these situations.

I went through something similar last year and what finally helped me solve unemployment problem was filing a formal complaint with the NYS Department of Labor's Office of Special Investigations. You can do this online through their website - just search for "file a complaint NYSDOL" and you'll find the form. I was stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks and within 3 days of filing the complaint, someone from their office called me directly and my claim was resolved within the week. It's like they have a separate fast-track system for complaints. Make sure to include all your documentation and be very specific about dates and what's been happening with your claim.

Just to add - the $504 maximum assumes you earned enough in your base period to qualify for it. If you just started working recently or had gaps in employment, your benefit amount could be much lower even with a decent salary.

One thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you'll want to factor that in when budgeting. You can choose to have taxes withheld (10% federal) or pay quarterly estimated taxes. Also, with a $52k salary, you should definitely qualify for a decent benefit amount - probably in the $450-500 range based on what others are saying here. The online calculator Emma mentioned is really helpful for getting a realistic estimate before you file.

Just be aware that you also need to meet the minimum earnings requirement. You need at least $2,600 in one quarter AND total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter. So if your highest quarter was $12,000, you'd need at least $18,000 total in your base period to qualify.

yeah the whole system is confusing as hell, took me forever to understand why my benefit amount was what it was