Just went through this exact same thing last month! Had to register with the Career Center even though I was already working with a job coach through my union's retraining program. It's definitely redundant but they won't budge on this requirement. The good news is registration only took about 20 minutes online and I could immediately see my benefits were processed again within 2 days. Your library job coach program absolutely counts toward your weekly work search activities - just make sure to document those meetings! Don't let this drag on any longer, the sooner you register the sooner your payments will resume.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - got laid off from my retail job in January and my benefits just got suspended last week for the same reason. It's so frustrating because I'm already working with a career counselor through my local community college who's been helping me with job applications and interview prep. From reading all these responses it sounds like I definitely need to bite the bullet and register with the Career Center even though it seems pointless. Has anyone found the Career Center resources actually useful, or is it really just a formality? I don't want to waste time on their workshops if my current counselor is already covering everything I need.

I went through this same situation last month when my company had layoffs. The most important thing to know is that NYS doesn't have a specific deadline like "you must file within X days," but your benefit week starts from the date you actually file your claim, not from when you became unemployed. So if you file today, your benefits would be calculated starting today, not from yesterday when you were laid off. I learned this the hard way when I waited almost a week thinking I needed to "get my paperwork together first" - ended up losing out on about $300 in benefits. My advice is to file online at ny.gov today even if you don't have every single document ready. You can always provide additional information later if needed.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. The biggest thing I wish someone had told me is that there's actually a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits, so filing immediately is crucial. Even though there's no hard deadline to file, every day you delay pushes back when you'll actually start receiving payments. I filed on a Tuesday and had to wait until the following Tuesday to even be eligible for my first week of benefits. Also, make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from day one because you'll need to report them when you certify for benefits each week. The online system at ny.gov is pretty straightforward once you get started - don't let the intimidation factor stop you from filing today.

I work in recruiting and see this question all the time on applications. The reason we ask is mainly practical - we want to understand your timeline and motivation. Someone collecting benefits might have different urgency levels or salary expectations compared to someone who's been out of work without any income support. It's not meant to be discriminatory. In fact, many of our best hires have been people who were receiving NYS Department of Labor benefits while job searching. What impresses us more is when candidates are transparent and can clearly articulate why they're interested in our specific role beyond just needing any job. My advice: be honest about receiving benefits, but focus your energy on demonstrating genuine interest in the company and role. That's what really matters in hiring decisions.

I've been through this process recently and can add some perspective. Yes, it's completely legal for employers to ask about unemployment benefits, and I've found that being honest actually helps build trust from the start. What I learned is that the question isn't really about judging you - it's about logistics and timing. Employers want to know if you can start right away, if you're genuinely motivated to work (since you could theoretically stay on benefits longer), and sometimes they need to understand your current financial pressures for salary negotiations. I actually had one employer tell me they appreciated my honesty because it showed integrity. The key is to pair your honest answer with enthusiasm about the specific role. Instead of just saying "yes, I'm on unemployment," try something like "I'm currently receiving benefits while actively searching for the right opportunity, and I'm really excited about this position because..." That way you're being truthful while also showing you're selective and serious about finding meaningful work, not just any job.

I went through something similar last year and it turned out to be a clerical error on their end. The key thing is to NOT panic and definitely don't ignore the notice. Here's what I learned: 1) You have appeal rights - use them! 2) Request a waiver if you qualify (sometimes they'll waive collection if it wasn't your fault and repayment would cause hardship) 3) If you do owe money, they usually offer payment plans. The worst thing you can do is ignore it because then they can garnish wages or tax refunds. Document everything and keep copies of all correspondence. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and it's so stressful! From what I've researched, the most important thing is to act quickly since you usually only have 30 days to appeal. I'd recommend calling the NYS DOL overpayment unit directly (even though it takes forever to get through) and asking them to explain exactly which weeks they're claiming you weren't eligible and why. Sometimes it's something simple like they didn't receive verification of your job search activities or there was a reporting error. Also, if you can't afford to pay back a large amount, definitely look into requesting a hardship waiver - I've heard they can sometimes forgive the debt if it would cause significant financial hardship and it wasn't due to fraud on your part. Don't let them intimidate you into just accepting it without understanding what happened!

I'm going through something similar right now and it's so overwhelming. One thing my therapist mentioned is that New York recognizes "constructive discharge" - basically when working conditions become so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to quit. If your workplace is genuinely toxic and making your depression worse, that could strengthen your case. Document everything - keep a journal of incidents, save any emails or messages that show the toxic environment, and get your therapist to specifically note how your workplace is impacting your mental health. The NYS Department of Labor looks at the whole picture, not just the medical condition itself. Also consider reaching out to a mental health advocacy organization - they sometimes have resources or can point you toward legal aid that specializes in these cases.

I work in HR and have dealt with several cases like this. For constructive discharge claims, the NYS Department of Labor will look for a pattern of behavior that would make any reasonable person quit - not just isolated incidents. Start documenting everything now, but also try to reconstruct past events with as much detail as possible (dates, witnesses, what was said/done). Keep copies of any written communications. The Mental Health Association of New York State (mhanys.org) has resources and might be able to connect you with local advocacy groups. Also, the New York State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service that can help you find attorneys who specialize in employment law and mental health discrimination. Having legal advice before you quit could be really valuable since unemployment benefits aren't guaranteed even with good documentation.