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Wait, I thought unemployment just meant you don't have a job? There's more to it than that? I've been collecting benefits for two months and nobody told me about keeping a job search log...
I remember when I first learned what unemployment describes - it's not just being out of work, it's being out of work AND meeting all these specific conditions. My sister got denied because she quit her job voluntarily, even though she was technically unemployed. The NYS Department of Labor is very strict about the 'involuntary' part of the unemployment condition.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to verify her eligibility, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. It was way easier than trying to call the regular number and getting disconnected. An agent was able to look at my work history and tell me exactly what I qualified for.
Is that one of those paid services? I'm always skeptical of companies that charge you to access government benefits you should be able to get for free.
The whole system is so confusing! I worked full-time for years then became a consultant and thought I'd automatically be covered. Had no idea contractors weren't eligible until I actually needed it. Your sister should definitely file an application even if she's unsure - worst case they'll deny it but at least she'll have an official answer.
Been there with the ski resort thing! Getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to ask about seasonal eligibility was impossible last year - kept getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that connected me directly to an agent. There's even a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered about standby status.
The NYS unemployment system is such a joke for seasonal workers. They make you jump through hoops proving you're looking for work when everyone knows you're just waiting for your seasonal job to start back up. But yeah technically you can collect if you meet the wage requirements.
The unemployment statistics are released every Thursday morning around 8:30 AM, but like others said, this won't speed up your individual claim. You might want to check if you have any outstanding verification documents or if there's an issue with your employer's response to the separation notice.
Yuki Nakamura
Small businesses get hit the hardest by unemployment costs. We had to lay off 3 people during COVID and our unemployment insurance rates went through the roof. It's like being punished twice - first you lose revenue and have to cut staff, then you pay higher taxes for years because of those layoffs. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't care that you had no choice.
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Luca Bianchi
•There are actually provisions for economic layoffs that don't impact your experience rating as much as firing for cause. You might want to check with your accountant about whether those layoffs were properly classified.
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GalacticGuardian
at the end of the day its just wealth redistribution from working people to non-working people. call it what it is
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Nia Harris
•That's an oversimplification. Most people on unemployment worked for years and paid into the system before claiming benefits. It's more like insurance than welfare.
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