This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm new to the NY unemployment system and had no idea that monetary redeterminations could cause partial payments during transition weeks. It's really reassuring to see so many people share similar experiences with the 2-day payments followed by finding those buried redetermination notices. What strikes me most is how many people mentioned the same frustration - that NYSDOL doesn't give any warning about these partial payments during benefit recalculations. It seems like such a simple fix that would prevent so much anxiety for claimants. A simple notification like "Your payment this week may be reduced due to benefit recalculation processing" would go a long way. For newcomers like me who might face this situation, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) Check your messages section thoroughly for any notices, 2) Look for increases in your maximum benefit amount, and 3) Don't panic if it's just one week of partial payment during a redetermination. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and outcomes - this kind of community knowledge is invaluable!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I just experienced the exact same thing - got 2 days instead of my usual 4 this week and was completely panicking. After reading everyone's experiences, I checked my messages and found a monetary redetermination notice from two days ago that I had completely overlooked. My maximum benefit amount increased by $420 and my weekly benefit went up by $38. It's such a relief to understand that the partial payment is just a quirk of how the system processes these recalculations. I was literally about to take time off work tomorrow to sit on hold with NYSDOL all day! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and confirmed that payments return to normal the following week with the higher amounts. This community knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official channels. I'll definitely be checking my messages more regularly going forward and will update next week to confirm everything goes back to normal with the increased benefit amount.

UPDATE: I went to the career center this morning and got exactly what I needed! They printed a UI Monetary Benefit Determination letter showing my claim details including the end date of September 6th. Took about 45 minutes total with the wait. The staff was really helpful. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

For anyone else dealing with this, I just want to add that if you're in a time crunch like I was last month, you can also try contacting your local assemblyperson's office. They often have direct lines to state agencies and can help expedite document requests. I got my unemployment end date letter within 2 business days after their office made a call on my behalf. Worth trying if the career center is too far or if you're hitting roadblocks with the other methods!

I went through this process about 6 months ago and wanted to share some practical tips. First, yes, caring for an elderly parent absolutely qualifies - I got my exemption approved for caring for my dad with dementia. The key is being very specific in your documentation. Don't just say "health issues" - have your doctor write exactly what limitations you have and how they prevent you from job searching. For caregiving, I had to provide my father's medical records showing his diagnosis, a letter from his doctor explaining the level of care needed, and a brief statement from me describing my daily caregiving duties. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to approval. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually start the application process online through the NYS DOL website, which saves a lot of time compared to trying to reach someone by phone. Just look for "Request Work Search Waiver" in your online account portal. Good luck!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add some additional information that might help. When I applied for my work search exemption due to caring for my elderly mother with Alzheimer's, the counselor explained that the key is demonstrating that your caregiving responsibilities are substantial and ongoing. For elderly parent care, you'll typically need: 1) Medical documentation of your parent's condition requiring care, 2) A letter from their doctor specifying the type and frequency of care needed, 3) Your own statement describing your daily caregiving duties and how they conflict with job search activities. The exemption periods can vary - mine was initially approved for 10 weeks and I was able to renew it twice with updated medical documentation. One important thing to note: keep a detailed log of your caregiving activities (medical appointments, daily care tasks, emergencies, etc.) as this can serve as supporting evidence. Also, if you have your own health issues on top of caregiving, make sure to include documentation for both - they consider the combined impact on your ability to search for work. The process can feel overwhelming but the system is designed to help people in genuine need.

I had a similar situation last year with a seasonal job that ended. One thing to keep in mind is that when you reopen, they'll ask about your job search activities during the gap period. You don't necessarily need to have been actively searching the entire 6 weeks your claim was closed, but you should be prepared to explain what you were doing (like if you were expecting to be called back to work, dealing with personal issues, etc.). Also, make sure you file your weekly certification as soon as your claim is reopened - don't wait! The system can be glitchy and sometimes there's a delay between when you reopen and when the weekly filing option becomes available. If you run into any technical issues with the my.ny.gov site, try using a different browser or clearing your cache.

I just went through this exact situation a month ago! The key thing is to make sure you're still within your benefit year before trying to reopen. You can check this on your my.ny.gov account - it should show your benefit year dates somewhere in your claim summary. When I reopened mine, I had to answer questions about why I became unemployed again and confirm I was able and available for work. The process took about 3-4 business days for me, and then I could start filing weekly certifications again. One heads up - they may ask you to do a phone interview if there are any questions about your job separation, so make sure you have documentation about when and why your temp job ended. The reopening process is definitely better than filing a new claim since it preserves your original weekly benefit amount!

I've been reading through this thread and wanted to add some encouragement - your situation is actually pretty strong for getting approved. Working 25 hours/week at $16/hour for 8 months puts you well above the monetary requirements, and having schedule conflicts between two jobs is very different from just being unreliable. The fact that you only received one verbal warning in 8 months shows this wasn't an ongoing disciplinary issue. I'd suggest when you file your claim, be specific about the dates you were late, the reasons (conflicts with your other job), and emphasize that you were actively working multiple positions to support yourself. NYS Department of Labor typically views job juggling as responsible behavior, not misconduct. Also keep copies of any communications you had with your manager about scheduling - those text messages could be valuable if you need to appeal. The worst case scenario is you get denied and have to go through the appeal process, but you've already paid into the system through your payroll deductions. Don't let fear of potential denial stop you from claiming benefits you may be entitled to. File online today and take it one step at a time!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just got let go from my part-time position at a coffee shop after 10 months for what they called "scheduling conflicts." I was working 22 hours a week while also doing freelance graphic design work, and sometimes my freelance deadlines would run over into my coffee shop shifts. Management said I was "unreliable" but I only had issues maybe 4-5 times total and always tried to give advance notice when possible. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like juggling multiple income sources actually shows work ethic rather than being a negative. I'm definitely going to apply online at labor.ny.gov today and document all my communications with my manager about the scheduling conflicts. It's encouraging to see so many people successfully navigate this process, even with initial denials. The wage requirements shouldn't be an issue since I was making $17/hour for almost a year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has made what seemed like an impossible situation feel much more manageable!