I went through this exact same process as a substitute teacher in the Rochester area last summer. Carmen, you should definitely file - substitutes are treated differently than regular teachers because we don't have guaranteed contracts for the following year. The main thing NYS Department of Labor will look at is whether you have "reasonable assurance" of work returning in the fall, and as a substitute without a contract, you typically don't have that assurance. I'd recommend filing online as soon as possible since there's a one-week waiting period before benefits begin. Make sure you have documentation of your work history from all the districts you've subbed for, and be prepared to actively job search during the summer - they do require weekly work search activities. The process took about 2 weeks for me to get approved, and having substitute teaching experience for two years should definitely meet their wage requirements.

I'm also a substitute teacher in the Capital Region and just wanted to add that you should definitely file, Carmen! I was in the exact same boat last summer - worked as a sub for about the same amount of time as you and was nervous about the irregular schedule. But like others have mentioned, substitutes are treated very differently from contracted teachers by NYS Department of Labor. The key thing that helped me was keeping really good records of all my work - dates, schools, hours, pay amounts. When I filed, they asked for employment history going back 18 months, so having that organized made the process much smoother. One tip: when you're doing your weekly certifications, make sure you're genuinely looking for work and documenting it properly. I applied to summer camps, tutoring centers, retail jobs, basically anything I was qualified for. The work search requirement is real and they do check, but it's totally doable. My benefits were approved in about 2 weeks and it really helped bridge the gap until school started again. Don't let the irregular nature of substitute work discourage you - you've been working steadily and paying into the system, so you've earned these benefits!

Just wanted to add that if you're in a real emergency situation and need cash before the replacement card arrives, some KeyBank branches will let you do an over-the-counter withdrawal with proper ID. I had to do this once when my card got damaged and couldn't wait for a replacement. You'll need your social security number, ID, and they might ask for the phone number on your unemployment account. Not all branches do this but it's worth calling ahead to ask if you're really stuck.

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm new to unemployment benefits and honestly had no clue about any of this KeyBank stuff. I just got approved last week and they sent me the debit card, but reading about all these potential issues has me thinking I should probably set up direct deposit right away instead of waiting for something to go wrong. Does anyone know if there's a waiting period before you can switch to direct deposit, or can you do it immediately after getting approved?

Based on everyone's experiences shared here, I think you definitely have a good chance of qualifying! The consensus seems to be that NYS Department of Labor evaluates these situations individually, and your 35 years of work history is a huge advantage. I'd recommend applying online and being prepared to clearly explain during the phone interview that while your employment ended, you're now able, available, and actively seeking work. Don't get discouraged by the potential wait times - several people mentioned it took 2-3 weeks for adjudication. Make sure to start documenting your job search activities right away (3 contacts per week minimum) since you'll need those records for your weekly certifications. The success stories from folks like Kristin and Abigail show it's definitely possible for people in similar retirement situations to get approved. Good luck with your application!

I'm 62 and just went through this exact situation! I officially retired in March but had to start looking for work again by June due to rising costs. The key thing that worked for me was being completely upfront during the application process - I explained that while I had initially retired, my circumstances changed and I was now actively seeking employment. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 2.5 weeks of adjudication. During the phone interview, they asked detailed questions about my availability and job search efforts, not so much about the retirement itself. My advice: start your job search activities immediately (even before applying) so you have solid documentation, and focus on demonstrating current availability rather than dwelling on past retirement decisions. The age discrimination concern is real, but I found success with healthcare support roles and retail positions that value experience. Your 35-year work history will definitely help establish eligibility - that's exactly what they want to see. Don't let the retirement label discourage you from applying!

I actually just went through this process a few months ago as a temp worker! Want to add one important thing that helped me - when you file your claim, make sure you list the temp agency's full legal business name exactly as it appears on your pay stubs. I initially just put the common name they go by and it caused a delay in processing because the wage records didn't match up properly. Also, if you worked for multiple temp agencies during your base period, you'll need to list all of them with their respective wage amounts. The NYS Department of Labor was actually really helpful once I got through to them - they explained that temp workers are some of the most common unemployment claimants, so the system is definitely set up to handle our situations. Just be patient with the initial processing time and make sure all your information is accurate. You've got this!

I've been working temp assignments for about 2 years now and have filed for unemployment between longer gaps in work several times. You absolutely qualify as a temp worker in NY! One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way - when you file your initial claim, they'll ask for the reason your employment ended. Make sure you select something like "lack of work" or "temporary layoff" rather than "quit" since your assignment ending isn't the same as quitting. Also, while you're collecting benefits, keep checking in with your temp agency regularly. I usually called mine once a week to show I was actively seeking work through them, which helped satisfy the job search requirements. The whole process is really designed with temp workers in mind since we're such a big part of the workforce now. Don't stress too much about the paperwork - just be thorough and honest about your work history and you should be fine!

Hey @Lindsey Fry! I just wanted to jump in and say you're definitely not alone in this - the NYSDOL system is confusing even for people who've been through it before! I'm actually going through something similar right now where I'm trying to figure out my next steps. Reading through all these responses has been super educational - I had no idea there was such a big difference between exhausting your 26 weeks vs your benefit year ending. One thing that's been helpful for me is keeping a little notebook with all the important dates and info from my account. Like when my benefit year ends, how many weeks I've used, what my weekly benefit amount is, etc. That way when I do finally get through to someone (fingers crossed!), I have everything right in front of me. The 8am calling strategy that multiple people mentioned seems to be the real deal - I'm definitely going to try that this week. And honestly, while it sucks that we might have to pay for that claimyr service just to access our own benefits, it sounds like it could be worth it if you're really stuck. Hope you get some clarity on your situation soon! This whole process is stressful enough without having to decode all the confusing rules and requirements. Hang in there! 💪

@Lindsey Fry I'm going through the exact same thing right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I had no clue about the difference between hitting your 26-week limit vs your benefit year ending - that's such crucial info that isn't explained clearly anywhere on the official site. Based on what everyone's sharing, here's what I'm planning to do (maybe it'll help you too): 1. Check my claim summary on ny.gov for benefit year dates and remaining weeks 2. Try the 8am calling strategy - seems to be the consensus that it actually works 3. If that fails, maybe try reaching out on Twitter @NYSLabor 4. Keep all my employment docs ready just in case I need to file a new claim The fact that NY doesn't have extended benefit programs running right now (thanks @Ava Garcia for that info!) is disappointing but at least now I know what to expect. It's honestly crazy that we all have to become unemployment experts just to figure out our own benefits, but I'm so grateful for everyone sharing their real experiences here. Makes this whole confusing process feel a lot less overwhelming! Good luck with your situation - sounds like we're all in this together! 🤞