This is such a basic question but the NYS Department of Labor makes everything so confusing! Why can't they just say 'most recent job title' instead of 'main occupation'?? The whole system is designed to trip people up I swear.

Just went through this same process last month! Definitely use "retail supervisor" since that was your most recent position. The NYS Department of Labor uses this mainly to categorize your claim and for their records. Your food service experience will still be valuable and you can include all of that work history in the employment section. The key is being consistent throughout your application - whatever you put as your main occupation should match what you list as your last job. Good luck with your claim!

Good luck with everything! The transition from workers comp back to job searching can be stressful but at least you have the settlement to help while you look for work.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago with a knee injury workers comp case. The most important thing is having that medical clearance documentation ready - NYS Department of Labor will definitely want to see that you're physically able to work. Also, when you file online, there's a specific section about workers comp benefits where you'll need to be upfront about the settlement. They mainly care about whether any part of the settlement covers future wage loss (which it sounds like yours doesn't). The whole process took about 3 weeks for me to get approved. Make sure you start your work search activities right away since they'll ask for proof of job hunting efforts. Best of luck!

I went through something similar about 6 months ago! The key thing is that you were ready and willing to work those two weeks, but your employer chose to end it early. That makes it their decision, not yours. When I filed, I explained it exactly like that - gave notice with intention to work through it, but was told to leave immediately. Got approved without any issues. Just be clear about the timeline when you file and you should be fine. Good luck!

This exact situation happened to me about a year ago and I was so stressed about it! But don't worry - you're definitely eligible for benefits. NYS Department of Labor sees this as a discharge since you were willing to work but they chose to terminate you early. When I filed, I made sure to clearly state that I provided two weeks notice with the intention to work through it, but was told to leave immediately. The claim was approved without any problems. Just stick to the facts about the timeline and you'll be fine. The important thing is you were ready and willing to continue working those final two weeks.

I'm also new to filing unemployment in NY and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I was wondering - does anyone know if there are any other recent changes to the unemployment system I should be aware of? I just started my claim this month and want to make sure I'm not missing anything important. The hours reporting change makes sense now, but are there other policy updates from 2024 or 2025 that might affect how I file my weekly certifications?

I'm also dealing with this same confusion! Started filing in February and nobody told me about any of these changes. I worked 9 hours last week and was stressed about whether to report 0 or 1 day. Reading through all these comments is such a relief - sounds like 9 hours = 0 days under the new system. It's crazy how they just change things without proper notification. I've been keeping detailed records of my hours just in case, which seems like a good idea based on what people are saying here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare with NYSDOL. Four months is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you're facing car repossession. I went through something similar last year and the stress was overwhelming. A few additional suggestions that might help: 1. If you have a Twitter account, try tweeting @NYSDOL with your case details - they sometimes respond faster to public complaints 2. When you call, press 1 for English, then 1 for unemployment, then 2 for existing claim, then 3 for payment issues - this routing sometimes gets you to different representatives 3. Try calling the Teleclaim line at 888-581-5812 and pressing 0 to speak to someone - it's meant for weekly claims but sometimes they can transfer you to the right department The fact that your car is about to be repossessed should definitely qualify you for expedited processing. Make sure you mention "financial hardship" and "imminent loss of transportation" in every communication. Keep us updated on how the assembly member contact goes - that's often the breakthrough people need. Hang in there!

I'm really sorry to hear about your situation - 4 months is way too long to wait for unemployment benefits, especially when you're facing car repossession. I had a similar experience last year where my claim was stuck for 2+ months. What finally worked for me was a combination of things: 1. I found my local assembly member's office was incredibly helpful - they have a direct line to DOL and can often get answers within a few days 2. The UI-640 hardship form that someone mentioned is crucial - make sure to include documentation about your car repossession threat 3. I also had success calling right at 8am when they open, but instead of the main line, try 888-209-8124 One thing that might be happening is your claim could be stuck in "adjudication" - which means they're reviewing something but haven't told you what. Sometimes it's as simple as needing to verify your last employer or work dates. Don't give up! The squeaky wheel gets the grease with NYSDOL unfortunately. Keep calling, keep emailing, and definitely pursue that assembly member contact. Your benefits are there waiting for you - it's just a matter of getting the right person to push your claim through. Hang in there!