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Emma Johnson
I'm also a per diem worker (radiology tech) and have been stressing about this exact same thing! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been SO helpful. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't pick up shifts from our scheduling app, but I was always second-guessing myself. The way the lawyer @Sofia Ramirez explained the legal distinction really cleared things up - there's a big difference between shifts being posted for anyone to claim vs. someone specifically calling you with an offer. It's frustrating that the NY unemployment system makes this so confusing for per diem workers when we're such a huge part of the healthcare workforce. I'm going to keep answering the same way and document everything just in case. Thanks everyone for sharing - it's reassuring to know we're all dealing with the same struggle!
Luca Ferrari
•Same here! I'm per diem in the ER and was literally about to call in sick to my anxiety over this 😅 Reading everyone's responses, especially from @Sofia Ramirez and the former DOL employee @Zainab Omar, has been such a relief. I ve'been doing the same thing - answering NO to refusing work when I just don t'claim shifts from our staffing platform. It s'wild that we all have to crowdsource this info when it should be clearly explained by NY DOL. I m'definitely going to start documenting which shifts are available vs which ones I m'actually contacted about, just to cover myself. Thanks for making this thread - it should seriously be required reading for all per diem healthcare workers!
I'm also a per diem worker (occupational therapist) and this thread is exactly what I needed! I've been having panic attacks every Sunday when I have to do my weekly certification because I was never sure if I was answering correctly. Like so many of you, I work through an app where shifts are posted and we can claim them - but some weeks I just don't pick any up (especially after really busy periods when I need to recharge). The explanation from @Sofia Ramirez about the legal distinction between "available shifts" and "direct offers" finally makes sense of this whole mess. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't claim shifts from the portal, and it sounds like that's correct. It's honestly insane that NY doesn't have clearer guidance for per diem workers - we're everywhere in healthcare! This thread should be stickied or something because I guarantee thousands of other per diem workers are dealing with this same confusion every week.
Salim Nasir
•OMG yes! I'm also per diem (ICU nurse) and have been having the same Sunday anxiety attacks! 😰 This whole thread has been like finding a support group I didn't know I needed. I was literally googling "per diem unemployment fraud" at 2am last week because I was so paranoid about answering wrong. The way everyone explained the difference between portal shifts vs direct offers finally clicked for me too. I've been doing the same - NO to refusing work when it's just open shifts I don't claim. It's ridiculous that we have to figure this out through Reddit instead of getting clear guidance from the actual unemployment office. Definitely screenshotting this whole conversation to refer back to! Thanks to everyone who shared, especially the legal experts who broke it down so clearly.
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Roger Romero
I'm new to filing unemployment claims and this is really helpful information! I've been having the same issue this morning - kept getting "system unavailable" messages. Based on what everyone's saying, it sounds like I should try again this afternoon or evening when there's less traffic. Quick question though - when you say we have until Saturday to file, does that mean Saturday at midnight or is there a specific cutoff time? I want to make sure I don't miss the deadline while waiting for the system to work better. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
Mia Alvarez
•Hey Roger! Welcome to the unemployment filing process - I know it can be overwhelming at first. You're absolutely right to wait for less busy hours, that usually works much better. Regarding the Saturday deadline, from my experience it's typically until 11:59 PM on Saturday, but I'd double-check the specific cutoff time on the official NY.gov site or call to confirm since deadlines can sometimes vary. Better to be safe than sorry! The good news is you definitely have plenty of time, so don't stress too much about the morning technical issues. Everyone here has been super helpful with their tips - definitely try the incognito browsing mode that Rachel suggested, it's worked for me before when the regular site was acting up.
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Been trying since early morning and keep getting the "system unavailable" message. It's really reassuring to see I'm not the only one and that there are solutions. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to try again this afternoon using incognito mode and maybe the mobile app if the website still doesn't work. Thanks for posting this question - the responses have been super helpful! It's good to know we have until Saturday to file, that definitely takes the pressure off.
Same here Sofia! I've been dealing with this for weeks now and what I've found is that the system really does work much better after 2-3pm. The morning rush seems to overload their servers. Also wanted to add that if you're using Chrome, sometimes switching to Firefox or Edge helps when one browser is having issues. And definitely bookmark the direct my.ny.gov link so you don't accidentally end up on a fake site. Hope you get through this afternoon - we're all in this together!
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I'm currently in week 5 of waiting for my claim to clear adjudication and honestly, this entire thread has been like finding a treasure chest of hope! I was getting so anxious thinking that those 5 weeks of missed benefits would just disappear into the void. Reading story after story of people getting their full back pay from their original filing date is incredibly reassuring - it seems like this is actually the standard process, not some lucky exception. My situation is similar to many here - employer delays in responding to verification requests - and it's comforting to know that NYS Department of Labor recognizes these delays aren't our fault. I'm definitely saving all the practical advice about manually certifying for back weeks and checking payment history carefully. The financial strain has been intense, but knowing that literally everyone who shared their experience here got their retroactive benefits once approved is giving me the strength to keep pushing through. Thank you all so much for taking the time to document your journeys - this kind of community support is invaluable when you're navigating this stressful system!
Daniel White
•@Marcelle Drum I m'so sorry you ve'been waiting 5 whole weeks - that s'an incredibly long time to be in financial limbo! But honestly, reading through all these experiences here has been such an eye-opener about how the system actually works. What really strikes me is the absolute consistency - every single person who eventually got approved received their full retroactive benefits from day one. That s'not a coincidence, it s'clearly how NYS Department of Labor operates once they clear the adjudication backlog. Five weeks of back pay is going to be a significant amount when it finally comes through, and based on everyone s'stories here, it definitely will come through. I know the waiting feels endless when bills are piling up, but you re'so close to the finish line and that relief is going to be incredible. Keep checking your account regularly once you get that approval notification - your success story is going to be the next one added to this amazing thread!
Aidan Percy
I'm currently in week 6 of adjudication hell and this thread is literally saving my mental health right now! My claim got stuck because my previous employer apparently "lost" the initial request for separation information and then took weeks to respond to the follow-up. I was starting to think those 6 weeks of benefits were just gone forever, but reading everyone's experiences here is giving me real hope. The fact that literally every person who shared their story got their full back pay once approved is incredibly reassuring. I've been living off savings and credit cards, and knowing that $3,600+ in retroactive benefits is coming once this nightmare ends is helping me stay sane. I'm screenshot-saving all the advice about checking for manual weekly certifications and following up if payments don't appear within 2 weeks. This community is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences and giving those of us still waiting the hope we desperately need!
@Aidan Percy I m'so sorry you ve'been stuck in this adjudication nightmare for 6 whole weeks - that s'absolutely brutal! But honestly, after reading through this entire thread, I m'actually really optimistic for you. The pattern is so clear: every single person who eventually got their claim approved received their full retroactive benefits from their original filing date. Six weeks of back pay is going to be a huge relief when it finally hits your account! It s'infuriating that employers can just lose "paperwork" and drag out the process like that, but at least NYS Department of Labor seems to recognize that these delays aren t'our fault. $3,600+ is definitely worth waiting for, even though I know every day feels like forever when you re'running up credit card debt. Based on all these success stories, you re'going to get every penny you re'owed from day one. Keep hanging in there - your approval is coming and when it does, that financial relief is going to be incredible!
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Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup too. Also if you were in a union or had any pension contributions, that might affect your claim so have those details available.
Mateo Silva
One thing to add - if you were laid off, try to get a separation letter from your employer stating the reason (layoff, lack of work, etc.). While not absolutely required, it can really speed up the process since NYS Department of Labor won't have to contact your employer to verify the reason for separation. This is especially helpful if your former company is slow to respond to unemployment inquiries.
That's really good advice about the separation letter! I wish I had known that earlier. My employer was pretty disorganized during the layoffs so I'm not sure they'll be quick to respond to NYS Department of Labor. I'll reach out to HR tomorrow and see if they can provide something in writing about it being due to lack of work. Thanks for the tip!
CosmicCadet
I'm new to this community but this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I've been on unemployment for about 2 weeks after my retail management position was eliminated, and I've been feeling pretty lost about what to do next. The idea of CDL training honestly never occurred to me, but reading through everyone's experiences here makes it sound like a really viable path forward. I love that you can potentially keep your benefits during training - that would make such a huge difference for me financially. I'm definitely going to start researching trucking jobs in my area this week and then contact my local One-Stop Career Center. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community is incredibly helpful for someone just starting to navigate the unemployment system!
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Tami Morgan
•Welcome to the community! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you. It sounds like you're in a really similar position to where I was a few months ago. One thing I'd add to all the great advice already shared - when you're researching trucking jobs in your area, don't just look at the big companies. There are often smaller local businesses that need CDL drivers too - construction companies, landscaping businesses, propane delivery services, etc. These smaller companies sometimes offer better work-life balance and the chance to be home every night, which might be appealing coming from retail management. Also, your management experience could actually be a real asset if you eventually want to move into dispatch or fleet management roles down the line. The workforce counselors really like to see how your previous experience connects to your new career goals. Best of luck with your research and that first call to the One-Stop Career Center!
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Natasha Petrova
This is such a helpful thread! I'm about 4 weeks into unemployment after being laid off from my job at a logistics company, and I had no idea about the WIOA program until reading all these responses. The fact that you can potentially keep your unemployment benefits while doing CDL training is a game-changer for me. I actually have some experience with freight and shipping from my previous job, so trucking feels like a natural next step. I'm going to call my local One-Stop Career Center this week to get the ball rolling. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone dealt with getting training approved if you have a clean driving record but maybe a couple of minor traffic violations from several years ago? I'm worried that might hurt my chances of approval, even though they're pretty old at this point.
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Paloma Clark
•Your logistics background is going to be a huge advantage! You already understand the industry from the inside, which is exactly what workforce counselors love to see. As for the old traffic violations, I wouldn't worry too much - most CDL programs and employers are mainly concerned with recent driving history (usually the last 3-5 years) and serious violations like DUIs. A couple of minor tickets from years ago typically won't disqualify you, especially if your recent record is clean. When you meet with your workforce counselor, just be upfront about it and emphasize your clean recent driving record and relevant work experience. Your logistics background actually puts you ahead of most applicants since you understand freight, DOT regulations, and the transportation industry already. That combination of experience plus a good recent driving record should make you a strong candidate for approval. Good luck!
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