Sorry to hear about the potential layoff situation - that's really stressful! Just wanted to add that when you do file with NYS Department of Labor, make sure you have your direct deposit info ready so you can get payments faster once approved. Also, if your employer offers any severance package, that might affect when your benefits start, so mention it when you file your claim. The good news is layoffs are pretty straightforward cases for unemployment eligibility compared to other separation reasons.

Hey @Caden Nguyen, I went through a layoff situation about 8 months ago and understand how overwhelming it can feel. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple checklist beforehand - gather your pay stubs from the last 18 months, write down your exact employment dates, and screenshot any layoff communications from your employer. The NYS Department of Labor website can be glitchy during peak times, so try filing early morning or late evening if you run into issues. Also, don't stress too much about the exact benefit amount calculation - the system will figure that out based on your wage history. Focus on getting the claim filed quickly and staying on top of your weekly certifications. You've got this!

I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in employment law. Reading through this thread, I'm really impressed by how much accurate information has been shared! Just to reinforce what others have said - car trouble causing attendance issues is typically NOT considered willful misconduct under NY unemployment law. The key legal standard is whether your actions were deliberate violations of your employer's reasonable expectations. Mechanical breakdowns are generally viewed as circumstances beyond your control. When you file your claim, focus on these key points: 1) The attendance issues were directly caused by unforeseeable car problems, 2) You weren't deliberately choosing to violate company policy, and 3) You have documentation showing the legitimate nature of the car trouble. Also, don't be intimidated if your employer contests - retail employers often do this automatically regardless of the merits of their case. The unemployment system in NY is actually designed to err on the side of helping workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. File your claim today and keep all that documentation handy!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience that might help. I was fired from my warehouse job about two months ago for what they called "excessive tardiness," but like you, it was due to transportation issues - my bus route kept getting delayed because of ongoing construction. I was really nervous about filing for unemployment because I'd never done it before and thought being fired automatically meant I wouldn't qualify. But after reading similar threads and getting advice, I filed my claim within a few days of being terminated. The whole process took about 4 weeks, but I was approved! The key things that helped were: being completely honest about being fired, documenting all the bus delays and construction notices I could find, and explaining clearly that the tardiness wasn't intentional or willful. My former employer did contest the claim, but the adjudicator understood that public transportation delays due to construction were beyond my control. Your car trouble situation sounds very similar - mechanical problems are definitely not something you can predict or control. Don't let fear stop you from applying - you have every right to file and a good chance of being approved based on what you've described. File today and keep all that documentation ready!

I just went through this exact process two weeks ago! Definitely report it immediately - I used the my.ny.gov portal to report my return to work the day I got my job offer, even before my actual start date. The online system is pretty straightforward - there's a "Report Return to Work" section where you just enter your employer info and start date. The most important thing is to NOT file your weekly claim for any week you're working full-time. I was paranoid about messing it up too, but as long as you report it promptly and stop filing claims when you start working, you'll be fine. NYS Department of Labor actually prefers when people are proactive about reporting employment changes. Good luck with the new job!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this recently! I was in the exact same boat - got a job offer on short notice and panicked about the reporting requirements. Here's what I learned: report it immediately through my.ny.gov (there's a specific "Report Return to Work" function), and make sure you don't file ANY weekly claims for weeks you'll be working full-time, even if you haven't received your first paycheck yet. The timing of when you start work matters more than when you get paid. I reported mine the same day I accepted the offer, about 4 days before my actual start date, and everything went smoothly. NYS Department of Labor actually appreciates when people are proactive about these changes rather than trying to figure it out after the fact. Don't stress too much - as long as you report it promptly and stop filing claims when appropriate, you'll be fine. Congrats on the new position!

Good luck! These hearings are stressful but totally winnable if you have your documentation together.

I just went through this process a few months ago and won my case! Here's what really helped me: 1) Practice explaining your case out loud beforehand - you'll be nervous and it helps to have rehearsed your key points. 2) Have a simple outline written down with your main arguments and the order you want to present them. 3) When they ask about the "misconduct," focus on the specific policy they claim you violated and whether you actually received proper training or warning about it. 4) Most importantly for retaliation cases - be very clear about the exact dates. When did you file the safety complaint vs when did disciplinary actions start? That timeline gap is crucial evidence. The hearing officers are actually pretty fair in my experience, they just want to understand what really happened.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! Got laid off in July, accepted an offer in August but couldn't start until September due to their onboarding timeline. NYS DOL was totally fine with it - I collected benefits for the full 5 weeks between accepting the offer and starting work. The case worker I eventually spoke with explained that you're considered unemployed until you receive your first paycheck, regardless of having a future start date. Just make sure to keep applying to other jobs during your weekly certifications (I did 3-4 applications per week) and be completely transparent about your situation. The anxiety about filing was way worse than the actual process. You've got a 7+ week gap which is plenty of time to justify benefits. Don't leave money on the table that you're entitled to!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just got laid off two weeks ago and accepted an offer yesterday, but they can't start me until March 1st due to their quarterly training program. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the consensus is clear: be honest about the pending job offer when filing, maintain genuine availability for other immediate work opportunities, and keep up with the required job search activities until you actually start working. The fact that so many people have successfully navigated this with NYS DOL gives me confidence to file my claim this week. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories - this thread is a goldmine of real-world experience that you just can't find in the official documentation!