I work for a company that handles unemployment claim responses for several large retailers, and I can give you some insight into how this process typically works. Walmart, like most major retailers, does contest the majority of unemployment claims - probably around 75-80% of them - especially those involving attendance or policy violations. It's largely automated and driven by their HR system flagging certain termination codes. However, the NYS Department of Labor adjudicators are trained to look at the actual circumstances, not just the employer's initial response. Car trouble with proper documentation is considered a legitimate reason for absences beyond your control. The 2-week timeframe you're experiencing is completely normal for contested claims - I've seen them take anywhere from 2-6 weeks depending on the complexity and documentation involved. Make sure you upload all your repair receipts, towing bills, and any other evidence through your online portal. Even photos of your broken-down vehicle or text messages about the car trouble can help establish the timeline. Don't be discouraged by Walmart's automatic pushback - I've seen plenty of cases where claimants won even when large employers contested, especially when they had solid proof their absences were due to unavoidable circumstances.

I just went through this exact situation with Walmart about 3 months ago - also terminated for attendance issues and they definitely contested my unemployment claim. The adjudication process was incredibly stressful and took almost 4 weeks, but I ended up winning my case because I had solid documentation showing my absences were due to circumstances beyond my control (medical issues in my case). From what I learned during the process, Walmart has an automated system that contests most unemployment claims, especially attendance-related terminations. They do this to keep their unemployment insurance costs down - it's just standard business practice for them. However, the NYS Department of Labor adjudicators are actually pretty fair when you provide proper evidence. Since your absences were due to legitimate car trouble, you're in a good position if you have documentation. Make sure to upload every repair receipt, towing bill, and even photos of your broken-down car through your online portal. I'd also recommend getting a brief written statement from your mechanic if possible, explaining that the car problems were unexpected mechanical failures. The 2-week wait is still completely normal for contested claims, though I know how nerve-wracking it is when you need those benefits. Don't lose hope - Walmart may contest automatically, but that doesn't mean they win. Many people do successfully get benefits even when big retailers fight the claim, especially with proper documentation of unavoidable circumstances.

I went through something similar a couple years ago - owed about $1,500 in overpayment. The key thing is to act quickly since you still have time to appeal. Gather whatever documentation you have - even partial records are better than nothing. Bank deposits, PayPal records, email confirmations from clients, anything that shows when you actually received payment vs when you worked. The appeals process takes a while but it's worth it if you think there's an error. In my case, I was able to prove the timing was different than what they calculated and got the overpayment reduced by about 40%. Even if you can't eliminate it completely, you might be able to reduce the amount owed.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got hit with an overpayment notice for $3,200. From what I've learned, the most important thing is to not ignore it. Even if you end up owing the money, they're much more willing to work with you on payment plans if you're proactive about contacting them. I'd definitely recommend appealing if you think there's any chance the calculation is wrong. The worst case is they uphold the decision, but at least you'll have tried. And yes, they can garnish wages and take tax refunds, but they usually give you a chance to set up a payment plan first if you reach out to them.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just got laid off after working for about 7 months and I've been stressed about the eligibility requirements. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that NYS Department of Labor looks at earnings from ALL jobs during your base period, not just your current one. I also worked a retail job for a few months earlier this year that I hadn't even considered might count toward my qualification. It's such a relief to see so many people who were in similar situations and ended up qualifying for benefits. I think I've been overthinking this whole thing when I should just apply and let the system do the calculations. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've given me the confidence to stop worrying and actually submit my application!

I just went through this same situation a few months ago and wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease some of your anxiety Kevin! I got laid off after working only 6 months at my current job and was absolutely convinced I wouldn't qualify for unemployment. But it turns out I was completely wrong about how the system works. The NYS Department of Labor doesn't care how long you've been at your current job - they look at your total earnings from ALL jobs during your base period quarters. I had worked at a warehouse job for about 4 months earlier that year, and those wages combined with my recent job put me well over the minimum threshold. The online application was honestly much easier than I expected. You just enter your employment history and the system calculates everything automatically. I found out I was approved within about a week of applying. My biggest regret is that I waited almost 2 weeks to apply because I was so sure I wouldn't qualify - I could have been getting benefits that whole time! Don't make the same mistake I did. Apply tonight and let the system do what it's designed to do. You've been paying into this system through your paychecks, and you deserve to use it when you need it. The worst they can say is no, but based on what you've described, I think you have a really good chance of qualifying. Hang in there!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm currently on unemployment and my grandmother in Italy has been diagnosed with a serious condition. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much clarity on how to handle this properly. I was panicking thinking I'd have to choose between being there for my family and keeping my benefits, but it's clear there's a legitimate process for family medical emergencies. The consistent advice about calling NYS DOL before traveling, being completely honest, and having medical documentation ready seems straightforward enough. It's really reassuring to see so many people who successfully suspended their claims temporarily and resumed without issues. I'm going to start gathering documentation from her doctors and call NYS DOL as soon as I have a clearer picture of when I might need to travel. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences - it makes such a difference to hear from people who've actually navigated this rather than just guessing about the rules.

I'm so grateful this question was asked and for all the detailed responses! As someone who's been on unemployment for the past few months, I had always assumed that any travel outside the US would automatically disqualify you from benefits. Reading through everyone's real experiences with family emergencies has been incredibly enlightening and reassuring. The consistent pattern seems to be that NYS DOL does have compassionate policies in place for legitimate family medical emergencies - you just have to know how to access them properly. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1) Call NYS DOL immediately when you know you might need to travel, 2) Be completely transparent about the family medical situation, 3) Have documentation ready (hospital info, medical records, etc.), 4) Request an official temporary claim suspension rather than continuing to file weekly, and 5) Don't try to work around the system by filing claims while unavailable for work in NY. It's really heartening to see that when people followed these steps, they were able to handle family emergencies without losing their benefits or facing penalties. This information could be a real lifesaver for anyone facing similar situations in the future.

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I've been struggling with NY unemployment for weeks and had no idea about the day-based reporting change. I was getting random "break in claim" errors and couldn't figure out why - turns out I was still reporting hours instead of days worked. Just to confirm what everyone's saying: if I work my usual 15 hours but spread across 3 different days (like 5 hours Monday, 5 hours Wednesday, 5 hours Friday), I should report 3 days worked, not 0 days or try to convert the hours somehow? The system really doesn't care about the actual hour count anymore? Also, @Josh Graff - definitely try calling right at 8 AM like others suggested. I had success getting through around 12:30 PM when I had to fix a similar issue last month. Having your previous confirmation numbers ready really does help the agents understand you're not trying to game the system, just confused by the new rules. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is way better than trying to decode the official NYSDOL documentation!

Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I just started collecting partial unemployment benefits last month and had no idea about this day-based reporting change. I've been struggling with the same "break in claim" errors and getting so frustrated trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that NYSDOL really dropped the ball on communicating this major change. I never got any email about the new system, and the website instructions are still confusing. It's only through threads like this that people are actually learning how it works. For anyone else just learning about this: the key takeaway seems to be that it doesn't matter if you work 2 hours or 8 hours on a given day - if you work ANY amount on that day, it counts as a full "day worked" for benefit calculation. So count your calendar days, not your hours. This is such a fundamental shift from how it used to work! Thanks to everyone who shared their troubleshooting tips, especially the phone numbers and calling times. This community knowledge is invaluable when the official system is this confusing.