This thread has been so informative! I'm about 4 weeks into my claim and have been keeping records but honestly wasn't taking it as seriously as I should have been. Reading everyone's experiences really opened my eyes to how important proper documentation is. I've been doing mainly online applications but clearly need to add more variety. Quick question - when you mention job fairs as an activity, do virtual job fairs count the same as in-person ones? Also, if I attend a job fair and talk to multiple employers, can I log that as separate activities or should it just be one entry for the entire event? Want to make sure I'm being accurate in my tracking while also maximizing my documented efforts.

This is such a valuable discussion! I'm about 5 weeks into my unemployment claim and I'll admit I've been pretty haphazard with my job search documentation. Reading through everyone's experiences here is a real wake-up call - I had no idea they actually audit these records so thoroughly. I've just been keeping a basic list of companies I've applied to, but it sounds like I need to be way more detailed and strategic about this. The fact that some people get audited as early as 2-3 months in means I need to get my act together ASAP. I'm going to create a proper spreadsheet this week with all the columns you've mentioned - date, company, position, activity type, contact method, etc. It's actually kind of reassuring to know that if you keep good records and genuinely look for work, the audit process seems pretty manageable. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice!

I'm in a very similar situation right now - got fired for what my employer is calling "insubordination" but I genuinely believed I was raising legitimate safety concerns. Reading through all these responses is really helpful, especially hearing that NYS Department of Labor actually looks at the specific circumstances rather than just automatically denying claims for insubordination. I'm planning to file my claim this week and I feel much more confident after seeing @Oliver Zimmermann's experience and others who went through the adjudication process successfully. It's reassuring to know that standing up for workplace safety doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been incredibly valuable during a really stressful time.

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in HR. What many people don't realize is that NYS Department of Labor specifically looks for "willful misconduct" - which means deliberate violation of reasonable workplace rules. Raising genuine safety concerns, even if your employer disagrees with you, typically doesn't meet that standard. The fact that you questioned the policy first before refusing shows you were acting in good faith. I'd recommend filing your claim immediately and being very clear about the safety aspect when you explain what happened. Document everything you can remember about the unsafe conditions and your attempts to address them through proper channels. The worst thing that can happen is they deny your initial claim, but then you can appeal with additional documentation. Don't let your employer's characterization of it as "insubordination" discourage you from applying for benefits you may legitimately deserve.

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! Just accepted a part-time retail position (about 20 hours/week) while continuing my full-time job search. I was terrified about the "return to work" question too, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I feel so much more confident. What really helped me was realizing that the question is just poorly worded - it's really asking "did you do ANY work this week" not "have you given up job searching and found your permanent career." I've been answering YES for the past month and my claim is still active, I'm still getting partial benefits. A few things I've learned: - Keep meticulous records from day one - I use a simple notebook to track every shift and gross earnings - Any day you work even 1 hour counts as a full day in their weird system - Your 22 hours should definitely qualify for partial benefits if spread over 3 days or less - The combo of part-time wages + partial benefits has actually been more money than unemployment alone Fair warning - my payments got held up for about 2 weeks when I first started reporting work, but they released all the back pay once the review cleared. Just keep certifying weekly no matter what. Honestly, taking the part-time job was one of the best decisions I made while job hunting. Having some guaranteed income takes so much pressure off, and it hasn't hurt my unemployment claim at all. Go for it!

I went through this exact situation last year and totally understand your stress! You definitely answer YES to "return to work" every single week you do any work - I was confused by this at first too because it sounds like you're saying you found permanent full-time work, but that's not what they're asking. They just want to know if you worked at all that week. Here's what I learned working part-time while on unemployment: - Answer YES to return to work, then report your gross earnings (before taxes) and days worked - Any day you work even 1 hour counts as a "full day" in their system (I know, it's ridiculous) - You can work up to 3 days OR earn up to $504/week and still get partial benefits - Your 22 hours should work perfectly as long as it's spread over 3 days max One heads up - when I first started reporting part-time work, my payments got held for "review" for about 3 weeks. Don't panic if this happens! Just keep certifying weekly and it'll get resolved. I actually ended up making more money combining part-time wages with partial benefits than I was getting from unemployment alone. Keep detailed records of every shift and what you earned - I just used my phone's notes app. The most important thing is to be completely honest and accurate in your reporting. The system is actually designed for people in your exact situation - working part-time while actively job searching. Take the job and don't stress about it!

I just went through this process last month and wanted to share what worked for me. After my regular benefits ended, I discovered I had enough wages from a temporary holiday job I worked in December to qualify for a new claim. The key was understanding that NYS looks at your "alternate base period" if you don't qualify under the standard one. This uses more recent quarters and can include wages earned while you were collecting benefits. I used the online benefit calculator on the NYS DOL website first to get an estimate, then called using that Claimyr service mentioned earlier to confirm with an actual representative. It took about 3 weeks to process the new claim, but I was able to get benefits again. Make sure you have all your wage documentation ready - pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, anything from work you did during your benefit year. Also keep certifying weekly even if you're not sure about eligibility - you can always pay back benefits if you weren't supposed to receive them, but you can't get retroactive payments if you don't certify. Good luck!

I went through something similar earlier this year and wanted to share what I learned. First, definitely check if you're eligible for Extended Benefits - these can sometimes activate without much notice when NY's unemployment rate hits certain thresholds. You'll see it in your online account if available. For filing a new claim, the key is whether you worked enough during your benefit year to meet the wage requirements. That November part-time work could definitely help! NYS uses different base periods to calculate eligibility, and wages earned while collecting benefits can count toward a new claim. I'd recommend using the benefit calculator on the NYS DOL website first to get an estimate, then try to speak with a representative to confirm. Keep certifying weekly even if you're unsure about eligibility - it's better to be safe and you can always repay if needed. The process can take a few weeks but don't give up. Also look into WIOA training programs as a potential bridge option while you sort out your benefit situation. Document everything and keep that job search log updated regardless of which path you take!

I went through something similar last year when my employer contested my claim after approving it initially. The key thing that helped me was keeping a timeline of everything - dates, conversations, who was present, etc. Since you mentioned this was a company-wide layoff due to budget cuts, that's actually really strong evidence in your favor. NYS Department of Labor looks at patterns - if multiple people were laid off on the same day for the same reason, it's much harder for your employer to claim yours was performance-related. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims during the adjudication process and respond quickly to any requests for information. The fact that they're changing their story from budget cuts to performance issues will likely raise red flags with the adjudicator. Stay calm and stick to the facts - you've got this!

I work in HR and see employer contests all the time. What your employer is doing - changing their story from "budget cuts" to "poor performance" after the fact - is actually pretty common but also a red flag for NYS Department of Labor adjudicators. The timing alone works against them. If performance was truly the issue, why didn't they contest immediately when they first got the notice? And why were you included in a group layoff meeting if it was really about your individual performance? Document that group meeting thoroughly - who else was there, what was said, any follow-up emails about the "company-wide budget cuts." The inconsistency in their reasoning will likely hurt their credibility during adjudication. Keep filing your weekly claims and don't panic - cases like yours where employers try to retroactively change the termination reason usually don't go well for the employer.