New NYS Pandemic Unemployment Application (insurance, unemployment benefits, contractor)

[jaykay515]

I was rejected from Pandemic Unemployment Insurance because of one question. The question was "Are you otherwise able and available to work?" I said no. How can i be able or available for work when the govt has told us to stay indoors ,no one can work unless they are essential personnel and must stay 6ft away from people. Also I am in an at risk group of being over 60. There was a subtext to the question that said PUI insurance is for people who are unable to work because they either tested positive, and the one that fits me is that my business has been shut down due to the virus. The reason for the PUL insurance is because I am not able to work because there is no where to work and im not available to work until the the govt says it is safe to. And what does "otherwise" mean, what a subjective word to have in a question.
Of course when the govt opens up my place of business and says it is safe to work I can go back to work, But i answered the question no because at this point no one knows when we can actually go back to work when is it safe to go back to work. It is out of my hands. I meet all qualifications to collect PUI and would like this matter corrected. Of course I am able and available to work when the govt says it is ok to go back to work. That is maybe the question they should ask, "Are you able and available to work once the pandemic is over?" The answer then would be YES

[BugsyPal]

Originally Posted by jaykay515

I was rejected from Pandemic Unemployment Insurance because of one question. The question was "Are you otherwise able and available to work?" I said no. How can i be able or available for work when the govt has told us to stay indoors ,no one can work unless they are essential personnel and must stay 6ft away from people. Also I am in an at risk group of being over 60. There was a subtext to the question that said PUI insurance is for people who are unable to work because they either tested positive, and the one that fits me is that my business has been shut down due to the virus. The reason for the PUL insurance is because I am not able to work because there is no where to work and im not available to work until the the govt says it is safe to. And what does "otherwise" mean, what a subjective word to have in a question.
Of course when the govt opens up my place of business and says it is safe to work I can go back to work, But i answered the question no because at this point no one knows when we can actually go back to work when is it safe to go back to work. It is out of my hands. I meet all qualifications to collect PUI and would like this matter corrected. Of course I am able and available to work when the govt says it is ok to go back to work. That is maybe the question they should ask, "Are you able and available to work once the pandemic is over?" The answer then would be YES

It is and has been standard determination for UE benefits that one is ready, able, and willing to work. Yes, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is supposed to be different, but when dealing with government agencies.....

Only thing you can do now is file an appeal explaining your response and why you feel the denial in in error.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/nys...apply-pandemic

[jaykay515]

Thanks for the response. I sent an email via the NYS website. I checked the NYS website and I was able to claim benfits for this week and it said Pending. So before filling an appeal I will wait to see what happens, and figure I should get a letter in the mail with the decision. The question never stated willing to work, which if it did I would of checked yes.

[IForgotMyOldAccount]

60

they want u to take Social Security

[BugsyPal]

Originally Posted by jaykay515

Thanks for the response. I sent an email via the NYS website. I checked the NYS website and I was able to claim benfits for this week and it said Pending. So before filling an appeal I will wait to see what happens, and figure I should get a letter in the mail with the decision. The question never stated willing to work, which if it did I would of checked yes.

Key to getting any sort of unemployment benefits comes in two parts.

First that you are unemployed by no reasons of your own; laid off, furloughed, etc... for any reason but you voluntarily quit.

Next you must be able, willing and ready to work each day of week that you are claiming unemployment. In case of PUA this means absent PAUSE order or whatever is keeping you from opening/working in your business, you would.

Plenty of people get themselves into trouble by saying things they shouldn't when making initial unemployment claims. They get denied then have to try and appeal.

Think at this point anyone who was self employed, independent contractor or whatever is getting or will receive the PUA benefit eventually. It just is taking huge amounts of time because of how NYS has set things up. Those people have to apply, then are told to call a claims specialist on proper day to complete their application. Good luck with that; have friends who can recite entire phone message from NYS unemployment chapter and verse because they've called so many times.....