Unemployment benefits stopped in NY state

It’s legal and for reasons I do happen to understand as being reasonable.

It’s also how all unemployment laws work, because searching for a job, and more importantly, being able and available to accept a suitable job and go back to work are conditional requirements to collect benefits for any week.

So, it does not come as a surprise to me you were denied for those three weeks in the hospital, but collecting again should not be a problem if your doctor has released you from being medically prohibited from working.

As far as being fair .. the reasoning behind the conditional issues is that employers pay the unemployment tax that funds the programs, not employees.

Alerting them is the right thing to do, because when someone doesn’t notify the state they aren’t able and available in any week they claim .. and the state finds out (in a variety of ways) now the unemployed person has a misrepresentation of material fact issue which shortened means unemployment fraud and that’s not something any person without a job, sick, or not needs to deal with, when it’s quite avoidable.

That is avoidable, if we only pay attention to how UI works.

Now, if you had mentioned this as a comment to a question about NJ unemployment, I would of given you the link to it’s temporary disability unemployment insurance program ..

I was recently hospitalized due to illness for 3 weeks. As I understand it, you can not claim benefits for those weeks, due to my inability to actively search for employment.

I’m in a total state of awe for this reasoning.

How is this at all fair to any person to be denied for what I basically ‘worked for’? (Because, I would not be granted benefits to begin with had i not had employment previously). I think this is totally unfair, especially if these benefits are your only source of income.

How is any person suppose to sustain themselves should they become ill for a short term? Shit! Even if I was still employed I would get sick pay. Why is this not viewed as the same? As I see it, maybe I shouldn’t alert them of any future unforeseeable illnesses that finds me in the hospital. My mistake there is one exception for claiming benefits while hospitalized; If I get into a car accident. How is this at all fair? I did purpose get sick.

I lost my job in March of 2012 and despite submission of hundreds and hundreds of resumes/applications I STILL to not have a job….. Much of this I believe is because I am over 50 but trying to prove that is impossible. Anyway – I was approved for the 599 training program which was delayed because they didn’t think that I could complete my training within 24 months. I finally was approved and continued to pursue employment while I was in school full time…. On June 16 of this year, I was unable to certify for my benefits, the following Mon I called the NYSDOL and was told that my benefits were exhausted but transferred me over to the 599 department for further assistance…. They too told me that my benefits were exhausted even though I was in their training program… So I have now been without ANY income since June 9th…. My home is in foreclosure, I have to wait 30 days for food stamps and 45 days for temporary assistance… Its been over 30 days and our food from the food pantry is almost gone so I have left 2 messages and sent 3 emails until I finally received a call…. They are unable to find my application!!!! SO,.. I am going to lose my home and I guess not eat until we are able to go back to the food pantry…… I am a very educated woman and have a vast experience in not one but 3 areas but I cannot even get a job in our local grocery store….. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO???? All become homeless, live in shelters and beg for food???? Where are the people that really care besides the Food Pantries????

No warning, no prior communication. Still accepted my reporting on Sunday and simply didn’t deposit the money to my checking account. Called the number that was given on the site and the recording said that the extension is now stopped BECAUSE OF THE IMPROVED ECONOMY. Has anybody noticed that the economy in New York or New Jersey has improved? I have fantastic skills and have not been able to find even temporary work, although signed up for several temp agencies and religiously check the online search engines.

Would like to hear from others in the same situation.

Hi GMK,

If you really do want to hear from others in NY and NJ, you need to create your own page. (you can do that here)

I’ll move it to the best category.

But your comment and request to hear from others noticing this “new” development, is buried here and probably won’t get much action.

Recently my family and I went out of the country because my 100 years old grandmother was not doing good and we were told to come and same good bye, of course I spend two weeks visiting in and out of the hospital. While I was out of the country I filed for unemployment not knowing I was not supposed to. When I return I receiving a letter stating that I received money out of the country and if I didnot call within to days of the date the letter was written I would loose all benefits. I call explain to them that I was unaware of unable to filed out of the country. They told me I would hear back from them, is there any chance of me getting those benefits back. I am going through such a hardtime and don’t want to resort to well fare until I receive a job. Please let me know if there is any hope. Thanks

Although I no longer address “chances” I can explain to you why you have a problem.

In order to receive unemployment benefits for any week that you file a claim for benefits, then ..
then you must be able and available for work and looking for work.

And .. a continuing claim form always ask the question.

Something along the lines of “were you able and available for work?”

I suspect you will receive a determination not only stopping your benefits, but also saying that you willfully misrepresented a material fact in order to collect unemployment for the time you were out of the country and not able to look or accept a job .. if one were offered.

Please don’t shoot the messenger .. I don’t make the rules .. I understand how the rules tend to work.

By the way, you are not the first person from NY I’ve heard this similar scenario from .. so I suspect that NY must be keeping a close eye on the ISP’s of the computer that someone files a claim from as an unemployment fraud detection measure.

Chris

Exactly 11 weeks after this mess started, they finally apologized. I went completely berserk this week and finally got some results. Of course the internship is now rendered useless but hey. At least I got my goddamn money back. AND YES IT IS MY MONEY.

You probably can’t hear the sounds of my cheers and applause here in .. well out west somewhere ..

But please know that it was happening right before I started typing.

Congratulations on yanking back what was rightfully yours from the puckered up coffers of an unemployment fund.

Chris

I am a Dental Hygienist who worked 2 jobs (1 fulltime and 1 part time-2 days/month). In September 2010, I lost my fulltime job because my boss closed the practice. I opted to work my 2day/month job to keep my skills up til I could find a fulltime position.

I collected unemployment but always reported the part time hours and had to fill out the subsequent forms each month explaining why I wasn’t working more.

In March, my boss offered me 2 more days a month doing different jobs than I was hired for. I was told he wanted the same person for all 4 days, and I couldn’t keep my old hours. Faced with that ultimatum and not wanting to work chairside with him, I quit.

I was just notified that since I quit my 2day/month job, I was losing all my benefits PLUS I owe $2800 for the benefits paid to me since the time of quitting. I was grilled by the unemployment man who called, to the point of bursting into tears. My former boss refutes all of what I wrote.

I can’t wait to get out of this God-forsaken state where you pay into the system for years, pay your taxes etc. and then when you need help, they give you the shaft. Onto Welfare I guess..

PS, it is now three weeks later and I am STILL arguing with them. They said they have to call the place where I was volunteering (the internship ended two weeks ago).

THIS MEANS THAT THE WHOLE INTERNSHIP WAS A HUGE WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE I AM SO HUMILIATED I CAN NEVER USE THEM AS A REFERENCE NOW. It just looks too bad for someone who was only working there a little over two months to have cops (or what sounds like cops) calling and asking questions.

It makes you look stupid and like a loser. My advice is do not do not work for free. Just sit at home watching soaps. I CAN NOT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW ANGRY I AM OVER THIS WHOLE THING.

Well get this….

I started an internship for a UK company with an office in New York City. I was doing what I was SUPPOSED TO DO which is get out there and try to network because sending my resume into this black hole is useless because I am 49 years old.

Anyway….I claimed benefits from the office computer (takes three seconds) and three weeks later, I noticed that my benefits did not go through. I called and was told this was because I was out of the country. Turns out this company’s servers show a UK IP address even though I was in New York the whole time not making a dime.

I was treated like a felon and told to come in with my passport to prove I was not out of the country. Seriously they talked to me like I was such a dickhead that I can only hope these clowns get laid off when Cuomo starts cutting the budget. I went in and gave them everything they asked for, but here it is three weeks later (and more than six weeks since I have gotten a check) and I am still haggling with them.

Has anyone ever gotten their congress person involved and did it really help? I AM SO ANGRY ABOUT BEING PUNISHED FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING THAT I WANT THESE MOTHER f$$^^Ws FIRED AND FIRED THIS MINUTE.

I mean, a simple phone call could have prevented this entire mess. And they never told me and allowed me to explain myself before just cutting me off. I am wondering if they EVER planned to say anything.

And the worst part is, they are going to call the company where I am interning. And they sound like collection agent/parole officers calling to check up on me (you know that nasty bounty hunter voice). That’s just what you need when you are trying get hired maybe.

Those idiots will find out soon enough what age discrimination is so please Andrew Cuomo please fire these people.

What are the requirements/education level to become a NYSDL claims Representative?

My claim rep is sooo stupid that she cannot even check the proper dates in a calendar. She has called me twice asking me the SAME questions, which of course I have answered…TWICE. When I corrected her, and told her she was looking at the wrong calendar dates she turned into a complete bitch and stated she was correct. I called the NYSDL and asked to speak to a supervisor hoping to be assigned someone with at least half a brain to handle my claim, I but was told they have no access to any supervisors…um..WHAT?!!!
I am sure my claim will be denied since she’s obviously incompetent & there’s no one to complain to, because they will not transfer me to a supervisor.

Shouldn’t a claims rep have the minimum intelligence to read a calendar? What the hell is going on in this country? I am just astounded that these IDIOTS are allowed to make decisions for those of us who do have a working brain.

Hi,

I know your question is rhetorical .. but then so are mine .. most of the time.

I don’t know what the educational requirements are to be a claims reps or what I refer to as claims adjudicators. Ironically .. when looking for issue specific information .. I often run across NYDOL job descriptions .. I’ve just never paid much attention.

The stories of ‘stupidity’ that I do hear suggest this problem is widespread and not confined to just NY.

Additionally, I am a firm believer that a person’s ability to fulfill ‘educational requirements’ on a resume is about as telling as a weather forecast based only on the way the skies look at the moment.

There is after all a lot to learn, but an ability to to ‘reason’ and an ability to listen well are not guaranteed by a degree.

All I can tell you is that when I began my career (if you can call it that) in unemployment .. I was sat down in a chair and immediately had to start talking to employers. I had zero formal training provided to me by the employer.

Thank goodness I had a kind and patient boss.

Nonetheless, after one day of feeling totally foolish and embarrassed and repeating to clients .. “I’ll have to check into that and get back to you with the answer” I went home that night and started researching .. for the answers.

Each unemployment claim .. is a repeated process .. the only things that change are the players .. and the facts.

And it is my opinion thst any state unemployment worker that can ‘t explain why they are correct about calendar dates or why you are in error .. is someone I would be concerned about making the proper determination .. because they don’t listen well.

At this point in time .. the only state I know of that actually directs you to a place where you could report your experience with an adjudicator .. is CA

Other than that .. I say call the office that ultimately controls all programs that require reporting to the federal government.

State attorney general.

Keep calling them until you get the answer you want to hear

oh do i believe you all… i’m going through bullshit with them too. they say i owe them money and are telling me lies. the lady i spoke to on the phone was a complete bitch.

My wife is collecting unemployment from NY state and the nonsense she has to go thru to keep her check coming is worthy ONLY of NY.. She tries to work as much as possible as a substitute monitor with our school district and may get called to work a couple of times a week which she always informs NY unemployment when filing her weekly claim. BUT, without fail as soon as she works (therby not having to collect benefits, A GOOD THING, RIGHT!! N O T!!) they withhold her money and require her to fill out endless forms explaining why she worked a couple of days and DID NOT COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT!! Unbelievable bullshit, only in NY…. As I write this she is in the process of filling out all the nonsense forms AGAIN, explaining why she did not collect taxpayer money and instead went to work! She’s a bad girl……

NEW YORK STATE DEPT OF LABOR EMPLOYS ONLY LOSERS WHO SHOULD BE UNEMPLOYED THEMSELVES. THEY ARE MOSTLY DUMB AS A STUMP, ONLY CARE ABOUT THEIR OWN PAYCHECK AND PENSIONS.

I HAVE ONLY HAD NIGHTMARES DEALING WITH THESE FOOLS IF THERE’S A GOD, WHEN THESE FOOLS ARE UNEMPLOYED THEY WILL BE TURNED DOWN WITH THE SAME BULLSHIT THEY THROW IN OUR FACES, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CORRECT THEIR OWN STUPID ERRORS TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS IS HAPPENING IN ALL ASPECTS OF BUSINESS IN OUR FINE COUNTRY FROM TOWN HALLS TO DOCTORS OFFICES IN THE COURTS ALL THE WAY TO WASHINGTON DC.

WAKE UP PEOPLE WE’RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT GOING UP SHITS CREEK TO THE LAND OF BULLSHIT WITH ANY LUCK I’LL SEE THEM IN HELL.

YOURS TRULY,

THE ANGRY AMERICAN?

Thanks for the input!

I went on the offensive, and
contacted my NY State Senator,
Congressman, and the Office of the Governor.

Whoo-Hoo!!!!

You are my kind of unemployment claimant:)))