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Did you report all your income correctly when you filed? Sometimes if you had multiple jobs or didn't report tips properly it can affect your base period wages. Also make sure NYS Department of Labor has your complete work history - sometimes employers don't report wages correctly to the state.
I did report my tips but maybe not all of them since we got cash tips too. Could that be why my amount is so low?
The calculation is confusing but there's also something called the alternative base period if your regular base period doesn't give you enough. You might want to ask about that when you contact them. Also double check that they have all your employers listed correctly - I had an issue where one of my jobs wasn't showing up and it increased my benefit amount once they added it.
The whole system is rigged against workers. Employers know most people can't afford to fight these contests so they just lie and hope you give up. I've seen companies claim 'misconduct' for everything from being 5 minutes late to disagreeing with management. It's disgusting.
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! I cannot stress this enough. NYS Department of Labor will scrutinize voluntary quits very carefully. Get doctor's notes, save those emails, maybe even consider filing a complaint with your state labor department about the working conditions first. The more paper trail you have showing the employer created an unsafe or unreasonable work environment, the better your chances.
same boat here... my job is killing me slowly but i'm terrified to quit without something else lined up. this whole system is so backwards - they expect us to stay in jobs that are literally making us sick
Ugh dealing with NYS Department of Labor is such a nightmare. I've been trying to get through to someone for WEEKS about my claim that's stuck in adjudication and their phone lines are always busy. The whole system is broken.
One thing they don't tell you upfront is that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or you'll owe at tax time. Also if you work part-time while collecting, your benefits get reduced but you might still qualify for partial payments.
Liam O'Donnell
Just to add - if you're seeing news about unemployment percentages going up, that might actually mean MORE competition for jobs which could affect your job search requirements. NYS Department of Labor requires you to make 3 job contacts per week and document them in your work search log.
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Amara Nwosu
This whole system is so confusing! Why can't they just tell us this stuff upfront instead of making us guess about everything??
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Andre Dubois
•I understand the frustration. The key thing to remember is focus on your individual claim status rather than worrying about statewide statistics. Keep filing your weekly claims and maintain your job search log.
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