I'm in a very similar situation right now - my benefit year ended three weeks ago but I still had 45 days remaining on my claim. After reading everyone's experiences here, especially the overpayment stories from Connor and Aria, I'm definitely going to stop certifying immediately and file a new claim. This thread has been incredibly helpful! It's clear that the system glitch is a real issue that affects a lot of people, but the consequences of continuing to certify can be severe. Better to deal with a short processing delay than risk owing thousands back later. For those who successfully filed new claims after their benefit year ended - did you have any issues with the online application system, or did it go smoothly? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any potential technical difficulties when I file later today.

Wow, reading through all these experiences has been really eye-opening! I'm actually in almost the exact same situation as Paolo - my benefit year ended last week but I still show 38 days remaining and the system is letting me certify. After seeing Connor and Aria's overpayment horror stories, I'm definitely not going to risk it. The fact that multiple people have confirmed this is a known system glitch makes it clear that just because you CAN certify doesn't mean you SHOULD. I'm planning to file my new claim tomorrow morning following all the great advice here - especially Natalie's tip about selecting "benefit year ended" and Aileen's suggestion to have all employment info ready beforehand. It's so helpful to hear from people who actually went through this process recently! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, both good and bad. This community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing situations that the official DOL website doesn't always explain clearly.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my employer to respond to NYSDOL, and reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that there are solutions. I particularly appreciate the advice about contacting HR rather than direct managers, and knowing that NYSDOL can make determinations after 14 business days even without employer responses. It's frustrating that we have to be our own advocates in this process, but at least now I know I have options beyond just waiting indefinitely. Going to try the professional email approach to my former HR department tomorrow morning!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I was stuck waiting for 3 weeks because two former employers hadn't responded to NYSDOL requests. What worked for me was a two-pronged approach: I contacted the HR department at the company where I had left on good terms (they responded within 48 hours), and for the other company where the relationship was more strained, I kept calling NYSDOL until I could speak with an agent who escalated the matter. The key thing I learned is that NYSDOL has different timeframes for employer responses depending on the situation, but they can absolutely make a determination without waiting indefinitely. Also, when you do contact former employers, frame it as "helping them stay compliant" rather than asking for a favor - most HR departments appreciate the heads up since non-response can sometimes lead to penalties for them too. Don't give up! The system is definitely frustrating but there are ways to move things along if you're persistent and professional about it.

I'm going through something very similar right now - just finished my PFL last week and found out yesterday that my position is being "restructured away." It's such a stressful situation when you're already adjusting to life with a newborn! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I had no idea that the transition from PFL to UI was even possible, let alone fairly straightforward. I'm planning to file my claim today based on all the advice shared here - especially about being transparent about the leave and getting that formal documentation from my employer about the job elimination. It's comforting to know that so many others have successfully navigated this exact situation. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive community for those of us dealing with these challenging transitions!

I'm currently in week 10 of my PFL and already worried about what happens when I return - my company has been doing "reorganizations" every few months. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and helpful for planning ahead. It sounds like the key takeaways are: file immediately when PFL ends if your job is eliminated, be completely transparent about the leave on your application, get formal documentation from your employer about the position elimination, and keep records of all communications. I'm going to start gathering my employment documentation now just in case. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - it's amazing how this community helps people navigate these complex situations that the official resources don't always explain clearly.

I had this exact same experience about 2 months ago! Got a missed call from 888-581-5812 and was super paranoid about scams too, especially since they didn't leave a voicemail. But everyone here is right - it's definitely a legitimate NYSDOL number. In my case, they were calling because they needed to verify my reason for leaving my last job. Apparently something in my initial application didn't match what my employer reported to them. I was so nervous about missing their call, but when I called the main number the next day and explained the situation, they were able to connect me directly to the verification team. The whole thing took about 20 minutes to sort out over the phone - they just needed me to clarify a few dates and explain the circumstances around my job separation. My claim was approved within 48 hours after that call. Since you've been pending for 3 weeks, there's definitely something specific they need to verify with you. I'd recommend calling 888-209-8124 first thing tomorrow morning and telling them you missed a verification call. They can see exactly what's holding up your claim and get you connected to the right person immediately. Don't stress too much about missing one call - they really do understand that people are cautious about phone scams these days!

I can add my voice to everyone confirming that 888-581-5812 is absolutely legitimate! I got calls from this exact number about 6 weeks ago when my claim had been stuck in pending status for nearly a month. Like you, I was super suspicious at first - especially with no voicemail left. When I finally answered their third call, it turned out they needed to verify my work authorization status because there was some confusion with my documentation. The representative was completely professional and had all my application details readily available, which convinced me it was real. Here's what I learned from the experience: Don't wait for them to keep calling. After our phone conversation, I asked the rep what would have happened if I kept missing their calls, and she told me they would have eventually sent a written request for the information, but that could add 2-3 more weeks to the processing time. Given that you're already at 3 weeks pending, I'd definitely recommend calling the main line (888-209-8124) tomorrow morning and mentioning you missed a verification call. They can usually see right away what they were trying to reach you about and either handle it immediately or schedule a direct callback. The good news is that if they're calling, it means someone is actively working your case! My payment came through just 4 days after I provided the verification they needed.

I'm going through this exact situation right now and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was laid off from my HR position three weeks ago and have a rental property that generates $1,700/month. I was so paralyzed by fear that the rental income would somehow disqualify me from benefits that I hadn't even started the application process yet. Reading all these real experiences from people who've successfully collected unemployment while having rental income has completely transformed my understanding. The passive vs earned income concept makes perfect sense - I'm not employed by anyone to manage this property, it's just an investment. I'm finally going to stop overthinking this and file my claim tomorrow. Plan to be completely upfront about the rental income from day one and report it accurately on all weekly certifications. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - this community support has been a game changer for navigating the NYS Department of Labor system!

I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation! Got laid off from my tech job last month and have been stressed about how my rental income would impact my unemployment benefits. I have a duplex where I rent out the other unit for $1,500/month. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people like Jake who've been successfully collecting benefits for months while reporting rental income. The distinction between passive rental income and earned wages makes perfect sense when explained this way. I was definitely overthinking this whole situation! Planning to file my claim this week and will make sure to be completely transparent about the rental income from the start. This community has been so helpful for cutting through all the confusing official language on the NYS Department of Labor website. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences!