One thing nobody mentions - if you have a 401k loan or any garnishments from your pay, bring documentation of that too. NYS Department of Labor might need to know about it depending on your situation. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

Great advice everyone! Just to add - if you've had any name changes in the past 18 months (marriage, divorce, legal name change), bring documentation of that too like marriage certificate or court order. NYS DOL needs to match your SSN with the name on your work records. Also, if you worked for any temporary agencies or had 1099 contract work, gather those records as well since they count toward your work history. The key is being thorough upfront to avoid delays later.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my spouse needed emergency surgery and I had to take unpaid leave to care for them. What I learned is that even though you can't get unemployment during approved leave, you should definitely document everything in case your situation changes. If your father's condition worsens and your leave becomes indefinite, or if your employer changes the terms of your return, that could potentially change your eligibility. Also, make sure to keep all your medical documentation and correspondence with HR. I'd recommend calling your local Department of Social Services too - they might have emergency assistance programs for caregivers that could help with utilities or other expenses while you're not getting paid. Hang in there, it's a tough situation but you're doing the right thing for your family.

I went through this exact situation last year when my mother had a stroke and needed full-time care. The hard truth is that you're right - you can't collect unemployment while on approved leave because you're not "available for work" which is a key requirement. However, there are a few things that helped me get through financially: First, check if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - mine provided some emergency financial assistance I didn't know about. Second, look into your state's Medicaid waiver programs for family caregivers - some provide small stipends. Third, if your father qualifies for certain programs through Veterans Affairs or has long-term care insurance, there might be caregiver support benefits. Also consider reaching out to local churches or community organizations - many have emergency assistance funds for families in crisis. The 6 months will be tough financially, but document everything in case your situation changes or your employer's policies shift. You're doing an incredibly important thing caring for your father.

Just avoid prepaid debit cards if possible. Some of those have fees that eat into your benefits. Stick with a regular checking or savings account at an established bank or credit union.

I can confirm that both Bank of America and credit unions work fine with NYS unemployment direct deposit. I've been using my local credit union for over a year without any issues. The main thing is just making sure it's a legitimate financial institution that can receive ACH transfers. When you set it up on the NY.gov website, they'll verify the routing number automatically, so you'll know right away if there are any compatibility issues.

I gave up on calling after 2 weeks of trying and used claimyr.com instead. Talking to an agent got my $ unlocked so fast. They basically keep calling the unemployment line for you and then connect you when they get through to a human. Total lifesaver when you're dealing with confusing letters like this!

I went through this exact same confusion with NY unemployment about 6 months ago! The mixed messages are unfortunately super common - I got a denial letter one day and then approval paperwork the next. What I learned is that the denial was usually for a specific week or issue (like the waiting week that everyone gets denied for), while the approval covers the rest of your claim. The appointment is actually a really good sign - they don't schedule those unless your claim has at least some validity. It's basically just them making sure you understand the work search requirements and how to use their system properly. Don't stress too much about it, just bring documentation of any job searches you've done and your ID. The whole system is incredibly confusing but you're probably in better shape than you think!

I'm in a similar situation - filed 10 days ago and still showing pending. This thread is really helpful to read through all your experiences! It's reassuring to know that 2-4 weeks seems to be the normal timeframe and that most people eventually get approved. I've been panicking thinking something was wrong with my application. Going to keep filing my weekly claims and try to be more patient with the process. Has anyone had luck calling early in the morning to get through to an agent, or is it pretty much always busy regardless of when you call?

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my claim 12 days ago after being laid off and it's still showing pending. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a lot better - I was starting to think there was something seriously wrong with my application. It sounds like the 2-4 week timeframe is pretty standard, especially with the high volume they're processing. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims even though everything shows pending, so hopefully that will pay off when it finally gets approved. The hardest part is just the uncertainty and not knowing if you need to do anything else on your end. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and tips - it really helps to know we're not alone in this waiting game!