I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with the same upload nightmares! Reading everyone's solutions has given me hope that there's actually a way through this mess. I want to add one more tip that helped me yesterday - if you're on Windows, try right-clicking on your browser icon and selecting "Run as administrator" before starting the upload process. I'm not sure why this makes a difference, but it seemed to help with the timeout issues. Also, I noticed that if you have Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive syncing in the background, it can sometimes interfere with uploads. Try pausing cloud sync temporarily while you're uploading documents. Between all the amazing advice here (early morning uploads, Chrome incognito, simple filenames, compressed PDFs, VPN off, one file at a time) and these additional tweaks, hopefully we can all get past the NYS system's quirks. This community is incredible - thank you everyone for sharing your hard-won knowledge!

Wow, this thread has become the ultimate guide for NYS Department of Labor upload issues! I'm dealing with the exact same problem right now - been trying to upload my work separation documents for three days straight with constant timeouts. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both frustrating (knowing how widespread this problem is) and incredibly helpful (seeing all the solutions that actually work). I'm going to try the comprehensive approach tomorrow morning: wake up at 5:30 AM, use Chrome in incognito mode with no extensions, turn off my VPN, pause cloud syncing, run browser as administrator, rename files to simple formats like "document1.pdf", compress everything under 1MB, and upload one file at a time while patiently waiting for those confirmation messages. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become IT specialists just to submit basic unemployment paperwork, but I'm grateful this community has figured out so many workarounds. Thank you everyone for sharing your hard-won knowledge - hopefully we can all get through this bureaucratic nightmare together!

One more thing to check - make sure your employer has your correct Social Security number on file. Sometimes wage reporting issues are just because of mismatched SSNs rather than non-payment of taxes. You can verify this by looking at your most recent pay stub.

I went through something similar with a small business that wasn't properly reporting wages. One thing that helped me was calling the NYS Department of Labor's employer services line directly to report the issue. They can put a hold on your case while they investigate, which at least prevents it from being automatically denied. Also, keep all your pay stubs and any documentation showing you worked there - you'll need proof of employment and wages earned. The process took about 6 weeks in my case, but I eventually got my benefits backdated once they sorted out the employer compliance issue.

Hang in there Malik! Getting laid off is tough, but you're asking all the right questions. Based on what you've shared, you should definitely qualify - layoffs are exactly what unemployment benefits are designed for, and your 2 years of full-time work history puts you in great shape. Just to add to what others have said, when you file your claim, make sure to answer all questions honestly and completely. The system will automatically calculate your benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter during the base period, so that steady full-time income should work in your favor. Also, once you start receiving benefits, keep track of your job search activities from day one - NY requires you to make work search contacts each week you claim benefits. The requirements are pretty reasonable, but staying organized from the start will save you headaches later. You're going to get through this!

Malik, I went through this exact situation 3 years ago when my tech company did massive layoffs. You're absolutely eligible - being laid off is the textbook case for unemployment benefits, and your 2 years of full-time work definitely covers the base period requirements. Here's what I wish I'd known: file your claim on the first day you're officially unemployed (so if Friday is your last day, file that Saturday or Sunday). Don't wait! The sooner you file, the sooner your waiting week starts. Also, NY changed their system recently and it's actually much more user-friendly now - the online portal at my.ny.gov walks you through everything step by step. One heads up though: they'll ask about ANY income you received during your base period, including that gap you mentioned. If you did any freelance, part-time, or contract work during that time, have those details ready. The system needs to see the full picture of your earnings. Most importantly, don't let the horror stories scare you - most straightforward layoff cases process without major issues. You've got solid work history and a legitimate claim. Stay positive!

The system is SO confusing! I thought I was going to get way more than I actually got. They calculate it weird with all these quarters and base periods. Why can't they just use your last few paystubs like normal people would expect??

Just went through this process myself recently. One thing to keep in mind is that the weekly benefit amount also depends on whether you have any part-time earnings while collecting unemployment. If you work part-time while on unemployment, they deduct a portion of those earnings from your weekly benefit, but you can still earn up to a certain amount without losing your full benefit. Also, don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income - you can have taxes withheld or you'll owe when you file your tax return. The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you a rough estimate based on your earnings history if you want to get a better idea before you actually need to file.

To clarify for the original poster - based on what you've described with 2 years at your previous job and 6 weeks at your current job, you would almost certainly qualify for unemployment benefits if you were laid off. Your previous job earnings would definitely count toward your base period requirements. The key is having sufficient total earnings and having worked in multiple quarters, which you clearly have.

Just wanted to add some additional info that might be helpful - if you do end up needing to file for unemployment, make sure you have all your wage information ready from both jobs. NYS DOL will need your W-2s or pay stubs to verify your earnings during the base period. Also, since you mentioned potential layoffs, know that if you're laid off through no fault of your own, you should definitely qualify based on your work history. The 3-month gap between jobs won't hurt you as long as your total earnings meet the threshold. Keep documentation of everything just in case!