Thanks everyone. I'm going to log into my.ny.gov tonight and compare my payment history with the 1099-G. Better to get this sorted out now than deal with problems later.

I went through this same situation last year! One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records throughout the year. When you're checking your payment history on my.ny.gov, also look for any weeks where you had partial earnings reported - those can sometimes cause confusion on the 1099-G amounts. Also, if you had state taxes withheld too (which is separate from federal), make sure you're accounting for that correctly on your NY state return. The good news is that if you did have the 10% federal withholding, you're probably in decent shape tax-wise unless you had other significant income during the year.

been there! mine got denied first time but approved on appeal. just make sure you appeal within the 30 days or you're SOL

Don't panic - denials are actually pretty common and most can be successfully appealed if you have a legitimate case. Since you mentioned it was a company downsize, that should definitely qualify you for benefits. The key is acting fast on that 30-day appeal deadline. I'd recommend calling the NYS DOL first thing tomorrow morning to get the specific reason for denial, then start gathering any paperwork you have from your employer about the layoffs. If you can't get through by phone, the online appeal through ny.gov is usually faster than mailing forms.

Just wanted to say good luck with this! It's not easy navigating both systems but it sounds like you're taking the right steps by getting medical clearance first.

I'm in a similar boat - been on SSDI for a year due to chronic fatigue but my condition has improved enough that I could handle remote work. Reading through these responses is really helpful! @Oliver Schulz, when you mention needing medical documentation, does it have to be from the same doctor who originally supported my SSDI claim, or can it be from any treating physician? Also wondering if anyone knows how strict they are about the "actively seeking work" requirement - like do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs per week?

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple to understand what you can and cant do when your on disability?? i hate having to navigate all this bureaucracy when your already dealing with health issues

Make sure you report any disability payments when you file your weekly claim if you do end up being eligible. NYS Department of Labor needs to know about all income sources, even if they don't affect your benefit amount. Being upfront about everything will save you headaches later if they do an audit of your claim.

I think the main thing is being honest about your work capacity. If you can work part-time, you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits depending on your earnings. But definitely report everything properly to avoid overpayment issues later.

I went through this exact situation last year! You definitely need to be careful about how you present your work capacity. What worked for me was getting a detailed letter from my doctor specifically outlining what type of work I could do and for how many hours. When I filed with NYS Department of Labor, I was upfront about my limitations but emphasized that I was genuinely seeking work within those parameters. The key is consistency - make sure what you tell unemployment matches what's in your medical records. Also, keep detailed records of your job search efforts because they may ask for proof that you're actively looking for suitable work.