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I had a similar issue last year where I couldn't get through to NYS Department of Labor no matter how many times I called. A friend told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach agents at unemployment offices. I was skeptical at first but tried it and got connected to someone at NYS Department of Labor within like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was able to set up my payment plan the same day instead of spending weeks trying to get through on my own.
I had this same frustration last year! What really helped me was using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a NYS Department of Labor representative. They helped me understand that my job search strategy needed adjustment - turns out I wasn't targeting the right types of positions for my background. There's a helpful video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Sometimes talking to an actual person at NYS Department of Labor can give you insights the website can't.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED! They say unemployment is low but these companies are posting fake job listings and ghost candidates after interviews. I've been unemployed for 6 months and NYS Department of Labor just keeps telling me to keep looking. Meanwhile my benefits are running out soon.
I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. The unemployment system is designed to make it as hard as possible to get benefits. They'll probably deny your backdate request and make you jump through hoops to appeal it. But definitely worth trying since you're talking about thousands of dollars potentially.
Make sure you understand the partial benefit calculation too. You can work and still collect as long as your total earnings for the week are less than your weekly benefit rate. NYS Department of Labor has a specific formula for partial benefits. And document everything about why your hours were reduced - that'll help your case for backdating.
This is fascinating from a policy perspective. The unemployment insurance system established then required states to create their own programs - that's why we have NYS Department of Labor handling our claims rather than a federal system. Each state had to meet federal standards but could implement their own procedures for things like adjudication and job search requirements.
Liam McConnell
Wait I thought this was only for people who didn't have taxes taken out? I'm so confused about all these tax changes
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AstroAce
•No, it applied to everyone who received unemployment in 2020, regardless of whether you had taxes withheld or not. If you had taxes withheld and were eligible, you got a refund. If you didn't have taxes withheld, it reduced your tax liability.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
THE IRS IS SO SLOW WITH EVERYTHING!!! I'm still waiting on my 2021 refund let alone this unemployment thing. They probably lost half the paperwork and we'll never see the money. At least NYS Department of Labor was faster with the actual unemployment payments than the feds are with refunds.
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