They better hurry up with these tax forms! Last year they were late and i had to amend my return which cost me extra money with my tax preparer 😡

I'm in a similar boat waiting for my 1099-G! Called the unemployment office yesterday and they said forms should be available online by January 25th this year. The rep mentioned they're trying to get them out earlier than the January 31st deadline because so many people need them for early tax filing. You can also sign up for email notifications in your NY.gov account so you'll know right away when they're posted. Hope this helps with your mortgage timeline!

Just be careful about how you structure your LLC activities while on unemployment. If NYS Department of Labor thinks you're actively seeking work for your business instead of looking for a job, that could create problems. Keep good records of your job search activities and make sure you're meeting the work search requirements.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. Had an LLC for some side graphic design work but was primarily employed full-time. When I got laid off, I was honest about the LLC on my application and had no issues getting approved. The caseworker explained that since my LLC earnings were sporadic and minimal compared to my regular salary, it didn't affect my eligibility. Just make sure you keep detailed records of any LLC income and report it accurately on your weekly certifications. The NYS DOL website actually has a section about business ownership and unemployment that might be helpful to review before you apply.

Just wanted to add that timing matters too. You need to file your unemployment claim as soon as possible after the business closure. NYS Department of Labor has specific timeframes for filing and you don't want to miss the deadline. Also make sure you're prepared to do the weekly job search requirements once your claim is approved - the rules still apply even though your business closed.

I'm in a similar boat - had to close my small marketing agency last year due to the pandemic's lasting effects on my client base. The key thing I learned is that you absolutely need to have been classified as a W-2 employee of your LLC and paying unemployment insurance taxes. I was lucky because my accountant had set it up that way from the beginning. When I filed my claim, I had to provide documentation showing the business closure (I used my final business tax filing and a letter explaining the closure reasons). The whole process took about 3 weeks for approval. One tip: be very clear in your application that you were an employee of the business, not just the owner - that distinction matters to them.

I went through this exact same worry when I got laid off 6 months ago! Had about $120k in my 401k and was panicking that it would disqualify me somehow. But everyone here is absolutely right - the NYS Department of Labor only cares about your work wages for calculating benefits. Your retirement savings are completely separate. I've been collecting unemployment for months now with zero issues. The key thing to remember is just don't touch that 401k money while you're on unemployment, because then it becomes actual income you'd need to report. But as long as it's just sitting there growing (hopefully!), you're totally fine. Good luck with your claim!

I'm in a similar boat - just got laid off two weeks ago and have been stressing about this exact question! Reading through everyone's responses here is so helpful. I have about $60k in my 401k and was worried it would somehow count against me when I file my claim. It's reassuring to see that multiple people have gone through this process successfully without their retirement savings affecting their benefits. The distinction between assets vs income that Madison explained really makes sense. I feel much more confident about filing my claim now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Have you considered asking your employer about a layoff instead? Some companies will work with employees who are relocating, especially if they value you as an employee. It's worth having that conversation before you just quit outright.

I actually went through this exact situation about a year ago when my spouse got transferred to California. NYS Department of Labor did initially deny my claim, but I found out there's a specific provision for "compelling family circumstances" that can sometimes apply to spousal job relocations. The key is documenting that the move was necessary (not just voluntary) and that you made reasonable efforts to continue employment. I had to appeal the initial decision and provide documentation showing my husband's job offer, proof that my company had no remote work options, and evidence that I tried to find comparable employment in NY before the move. It took about 3 months to get approved, but I did eventually receive benefits. The process was definitely stressful, but it might be worth exploring if you can show the move is truly necessary rather than just a preference.