Just be really careful about this stuff. I reported my wages wrong once and they hit me with an overpayment notice months later. NYS Department of Labor doesn't mess around with wage reporting errors.

For tips specifically - if you're in a restaurant job, make sure you're reporting what you actually received, not what the restaurant reports as your tip income. Sometimes there's a difference and you want to be accurate on your weekly claim certification.

I went through this exact same situation last year - warehouse job, unsafe conditions, forced resignation. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was being super specific about how the unsafe conditions violated OSHA standards. I listed every incident with dates, described exactly what safety equipment was broken or missing, and included photos I took on my phone. Also document any conversations where you brought up safety concerns to supervisors. The judge wants to see you made reasonable attempts to fix the situation before quitting. Don't just say "unsafe conditions" - say things like "forklift had faulty brakes reported on [date], no safety harnesses provided for elevated work, blocked emergency exits, etc." Good luck!

I've been through this process twice - once successfully, once not. The difference was in the details. For your unsafe warehouse conditions case, you need to frame it around NYS Labor Law standards. Mention specific violations like inadequate ventilation, broken machinery without lockout/tagout procedures, missing safety guards, or violations of warehouse height safety requirements. The administrative law judge needs to see that a reasonable person in your situation would have quit. Also, if you filed any workers' comp claims or incident reports while employed, definitely include those. One thing I learned the hard way - if you have any medical documentation showing stress or injury from the unsafe conditions, include that too. The NYS Department of Labor considers both physical safety and health impacts when determining "good cause" for leaving. Keep the letter under 2 pages but make every sentence count.

yeah this happened to me too, employers don't really care about unemployment stuff as long as you can start when they need you

I'm going through something similar right now - my claim has been pending for over a month and it's definitely affecting my job search momentum. The stress of not knowing when or if benefits will come through makes it hard to stay focused during interviews. I've found it helps to frame it as "navigating administrative processes" rather than dwelling on the delays when talking to employers. The uncertainty is the worst part though - at least when you know your financial situation you can plan accordingly.

I'm sorry you're going through this tough situation. From what I understand about NY unemployment law, failing a drug test is generally considered "misconduct connected with work" which would disqualify you from benefits. However, every case is different and there can be nuances - like whether your employer had a clear drug policy that was properly communicated, or if there were any medical factors involved. I'd recommend filing your claim anyway since the determination process will review all the specifics of your case. You have nothing to lose by applying, and if you're denied, you can always appeal. Make sure to gather any documentation about your employment, the drug test process, and your termination. Good luck!

Hey Tobias, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation. I actually work in HR and have seen cases like yours before. While failing a drug test is typically classified as misconduct, there are some factors that could potentially work in your favor. For instance, if your employer didn't have a clearly written drug policy in your employee handbook, or if they didn't follow proper testing procedures, that could be grounds for your claim. Also, the timing matters - some people have successfully argued that off-duty conduct shouldn't disqualify them if it didn't directly impact their work performance. I'd definitely recommend filing your claim and being completely honest about the circumstances. Make sure to mention your 8 months of good work history too, as that shows you were a reliable employee. The worst case scenario is they deny it, but at least you'll have tried. And if denied, the appeal process gives you another chance to present your case with more documentation.

yeah i had unemployment last year and got a small refund actually. but i think it was because i had other tax credits that helped offset things. really depends on your whole tax picture not just the unemployment part

Based on your numbers ($14,500 in benefits with $1,450 withheld), you'll likely owe additional federal taxes. The 10% withholding often isn't enough since unemployment benefits are taxed as ordinary income. For 2024, if you're single with $14,500 income, your effective tax rate would be around 12%, so you'd owe roughly $1,740 total federal tax. Since only $1,450 was withheld, you'd probably owe around $290 more. Don't forget about NY state taxes too - they don't automatically withhold state taxes from unemployment benefits, so you'll likely owe state taxes as well unless you made quarterly payments.