This is super helpful information everyone! I'm in a similar situation where I'm worried about potential layoffs at my company. One thing I'm curious about - does the size of the employer or the industry they're in affect how much they pay into the unemployment system? Like would a big tech company pay the same rate as a small restaurant? And does that impact how quickly claims get processed or anything like that?

Just wanted to add that if you're looking into this because you're worried about job security, it might be worth checking your earnings statement from NYS Department of Labor online. You can see your quarterly wages there which will give you a better idea of what your potential weekly benefit amount would be. I found out about this when I was between jobs last year - you can access it through the same portal where you'd file a claim. It's called the "Benefit Rate Calculator" and it helped me budget during my job search knowing roughly what I could expect.

Just make sure you document everything about the safety issues you mentioned. If your employer tries to contest your claim, having evidence that you were fired for legitimate concerns rather than actual performance problems could really help your case. I wish I had kept better records when I went through something similar.

Definitely file your claim ASAP! You can absolutely collect unemployment if you were fired for performance issues - that's not considered misconduct under NYS law. The fact that you raised safety concerns actually works in your favor if your employer contests it. I'd recommend keeping any documentation about those safety issues you mentioned, just in case. When you file online at labor.ny.gov, just be honest about being terminated for performance reasons. Don't stress too much - the system is designed to help workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and performance issues usually fall into that category. Good luck!

Have you tried calling them? I know its a pain, but sometimes you gotta be persistent to get answers.

I'm dealing with a similar overpayment situation right now too! From what I've read in the DOL handbook, they're supposed to send you a notice explaining the recoupment schedule and when benefits should resume. Have you gotten anything like that in writing? Also, I noticed on my online account there's a section that shows the overpayment balance - might be worth checking if yours updates as they deduct. This whole process is so stressful when you're already struggling financially 😔

i had 2 go through this last month. nightmare situation. the number u need is 518-402-0205. BUT good luck getting thru lol. i ended up using this service called claimyr after trying for 3 days straight with no luck. they got me connected to someone in about 30 min and i was able to reschedule. website is claimyr.com if ur desperate like i was

I've been dealing with NY unemployment for months and here's what finally worked for me when I needed to reschedule my hearing: 1. Try calling 518-402-0205 (the direct hearings line) at exactly 7:59am and keep hitting redial until 8:15am. This narrow window is your best shot. 2. If that fails, go to your local Career Center in person with your hearing notice. The staff there can access the hearings system directly and reschedule you on the spot. I drove 45 minutes to mine but it was worth avoiding the phone nightmare. 3. As a backup, send a certified letter to the address on your hearing notice explaining your medical procedure and requesting a reschedule. Include your claim number, contact info, and preferred dates. At least you'll have proof you tried to contact them. The system is intentionally frustrating but don't give up! Missing the hearing without notice will automatically rule against you. Also document every attempt you make to contact them - screenshots of call logs, emails, etc. This will help if you need to appeal later. Hope this helps and good luck with your medical procedure!

I'm dealing with this same issue right now - my effective days just hit zero last week but my benefit year runs until January 2026. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to keep certifying weekly for at least the next couple months. The way I see it, even if there's only a 10% chance of extensions being passed, the few minutes each week is worth the potential backpay. Plus several people mentioned how it helps keep you disciplined with job searching, which I definitely need right now. I'm also going to look into applying for SNAP and HEAP - I've been putting it off but hearing how straightforward the process was for others makes me feel more confident about it. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through this recently. It's really helpful to get practical advice from people who actually dealt with this situation rather than just guessing what might happen.

I'm in the exact same situation - my effective days just hit zero this week but my benefit year doesn't end until September 2025. I was really panicking when I first saw that zero balance, but reading through everyone's responses here has been so reassuring. It sounds like the consensus is pretty clear: keep certifying weekly even though payments stop, since it only takes a few minutes and could potentially position you for backpay if any extensions get passed down the line. I'm also motivated by what several people mentioned about how the weekly certification keeps you accountable for job search activities - I definitely need that structure right now. Planning to apply for SNAP and HEAP this week too after seeing how positive everyone's experiences were with those programs. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially the recent ones - it really helps to know we're not alone in this confusing situation!