I actually had a very similar situation a few years back - herniated disc from a hiking accident that kept me out of my construction job for 10 weeks. The process was definitely stressful, but I did end up getting benefits. The most important thing is being completely transparent about your limitations while emphasizing what you CAN still do. I had to submit medical documentation every few weeks showing my progress, and I kept detailed records of every office job I applied to. NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty reasonable once they understood I was genuinely looking for work within my physical restrictions. Start your claim ASAP though - there's a waiting period and you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you don't file. Good luck with your recovery!

I had a similar experience after a motorcycle accident left me unable to do my electrician job for 12 weeks. The biggest thing that helped me was creating a comprehensive job search strategy focused on what I COULD do - I applied for dispatcher positions, customer service roles, and administrative work in my field. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim because I demonstrated I was actively seeking suitable employment. Pro tip: when you file, don't just say "I can do desk work" - be specific about job titles and industries you're targeting. I kept a spreadsheet of applications and included it with my weekly certifications. Also, consider reaching out to temp agencies that specialize in office work - they often have short-term positions that work well while you're recovering. The whole process took about 4 weeks from filing to first payment, but having that documentation ready made all the difference.

Just wanted to say thanks for asking these questions! I'm starting my claim next week and this thread has been super helpful.

I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for about 6 weeks now and can share what I've learned. For the pending status - mine stayed pending for almost a month before switching to approved, so don't panic yet. Make sure you're doing your weekly certifications on the same day each week if possible. One tip that helped me: when you do your job search activities, save screenshots or confirmation emails from applications as backup proof. I learned this the hard way when they asked me to verify some of my job search activities. Also, if you're doing any freelance or gig work (even just a few hours), you MUST report it - they cross-reference with other databases and will catch discrepancies.

This happened to my cousin - ended up being just that 1 week. But def appeal it since it wasnt your fault!

Had the EXACT same situation happen to me 2 months ago! Got the job fair notice 4 days late and they tried to cut my benefits. Here's what worked for me: 1. Take photos of EVERYTHING - the envelope, postmark, the notice itself 2. File your appeal ASAP (don't wait!) 3. In the appeal, be super clear about the timeline - when you received it vs when the event was 4. Keep a log of all your job search activities to show you're still actively looking They ended up only stopping 1 week for me and I got it back after the appeal went through (took about 3 weeks). The key is proving you got the notice late through no fault of your own. Don't stress too much - this happens way more often than it should and they usually side with you if you have documentation. Just make sure to keep certifying every week even while it's under review!

Just wanted to add that if you do file and get denied, you can appeal the decision. Sometimes NYS Department of Labor doesn't have complete records and additional documentation can help your case. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

I went through something similar when I worked as a babysitter for a family that moved. One thing that might help is to ask your current family directly about the tax situation before they leave - they might have been paying into unemployment insurance without you realizing it. Some families do handle the paperwork properly even if they don't always communicate it clearly to their nannies. Also, even if this job doesn't qualify you for benefits, make sure your next nanny position is set up correctly from the start so you're protected in the future. You can ask potential employers upfront if they'll be treating you as a household employee with proper tax withholdings.

The whole system is honestly pretty confusing at first but you get used to it. Just remember that if your claim gets approved, your first payment usually comes about 2-3 weeks after filing if everything goes smoothly. But don't panic if it takes longer - mine took 5 weeks because of some verification issues.

Thanks everyone for all this helpful info! I'm definitely going to file today after reading all of this. One quick question - when you say they contact your employer to verify employment, do they actually call them or is it just through some automated system? I'm worried my old manager might say something negative since the layoffs were pretty sudden and there was some tension. Also, should I expect to get any paperwork in the mail or is everything done online these days?