


Ask the community...
I work with disability cases (not a lawyer just admin) and you're gonna have an uphill battle with the timing issue. But it's not impossible! Gather all your medical records showing when the disability started, any attempts at treatment, and documentation of why you couldn't file earlier (medical appointments, surgeries, whatever). Then you NEED to speak with an actual agent who can look at your specific situation.
I went through something similar - had a work injury that took months to properly diagnose and by the time I realized I couldn't return to my job, I thought I'd missed the window. Turns out NY has provisions for "good cause" delays, especially when medical issues are involved. The key thing is you need to show that your delay was due to circumstances beyond your control (which dealing with a new disability diagnosis definitely qualifies as). When you call, emphasize that you were overwhelmed with medical care and didn't understand your options at the time. Bring documentation showing your diagnosis timeline, treatment schedule, anything that shows you were dealing with a serious medical situation. Also mention you're already in the SSDI process - that actually helps show the severity of your condition. Don't let people discourage you about the timing - I've seen people get approved for unemployment even after long delays when they had valid reasons. Your disability diagnosis and the time it took to understand your new limitations is absolutely a valid reason. Just make sure you can work in SOME capacity when you file (even if it's different from your mechanic job) because that's the requirement for unemployment vs disability benefits. Good luck! 🙏
Your weekly benefit rate is calculated as 1/26th of your highest quarter earnings during your base period, up to the maximum of $504. The minimum weekly benefit is $104. So if your highest quarter was $6,800 like you mentioned, that would be about $261 per week before any partial earnings deductions. You'll also need to meet the work search requirements and file weekly claims to maintain eligibility.
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor to ask about my benefit calculation for weeks but their phone lines are always busy. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever.
I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to NYS Department of Labor agents when you can't reach them yourself. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I used it last month and finally got my benefit questions answered after weeks of failed attempts.
The whole system is so frustrating! I qualified for like $180 a week which barely covers anything these days. Meanwhile my friend who worked construction gets the max $504. It's not fair how they calculate these things based on your previous job when some industries just pay less.
I've been trying to get through to NYS Department of Labor for weeks to ask this exact question! Their phone lines are always busy and I keep getting hung up on. It's so frustrating when you just need a simple answer about reporting requirements.
I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They actually get you through to real NYS Department of Labor agents on the phone. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. I was skeptical at first but it really helped me get answers about my specific claim issues without waiting on hold for hours.
Just want to add that while 401k withdrawals don't affect your UI benefits, you should really consider if this is the best option. The penalties and taxes can be brutal, plus you're losing years of compound growth. Maybe look into hardship loans from your 401k first?
For anyone still experiencing issues, the NYSDOL has acknowledged the technical difficulties on their official channels. They've stated: 1. No one will be penalized for missing certification deadlines due to today's system issues 2. The main issue has been identified and partially resolved (database connection problems) 3. They recommend using the mobile app instead of the website if possible 4. If you receive error codes, document them and the time of your attempt If you absolutely need to certify today and cannot access the system, calling the Telephone Claims Center is an option, though wait times may be long. For fastest service, try calling right when they open (8:00 AM) tomorrow.
Thank you so much for this information! I did manage to get in and certify about 30 minutes ago, but this is really helpful for others. Where did you see this official announcement? I couldn't find anything on their website.
Just wanted to share my experience from today - I was also locked out all morning but managed to get through around 2 PM using Firefox after switching from Chrome. What worked for me was clearing ALL browsing data (not just cache/cookies), restarting my browser completely, and then waiting about 20 minutes before trying again. The site was still really sluggish but I was able to complete my certification. For anyone still struggling, I also noticed that if you get logged out during the certification process, DON'T immediately try to log back in. Wait at least 15-20 minutes or it seems to trigger some kind of session conflict. Really hope they invest in better infrastructure soon because this stress is the last thing unemployed people need!
Angelina Farar
ugh the whole system is so confusing... why can't they just make it clear what counts as what?? i'm dealing with three different agencies right now and they all want different information about my unemployment benefits
0 coins
Mei Lin
•I totally feel your frustration! Each agency has their own forms and definitions. What helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet with my monthly UI amounts and dates - then I could just reference it for any application. Also, most agencies have a "benefits verification" section on their websites where you can print official statements if needed.
0 coins
Ingrid Larsson
I went through this exact same situation a few months ago when applying for rental assistance. Yes, you absolutely need to report your unemployment benefits as they are considered public benefits for reporting purposes. I was initially hesitant too, but my caseworker explained that being transparent is always the best approach. The good news is that most housing assistance programs understand that unemployment is temporary and shows you're actively seeking work. They typically look more favorably on UI recipients compared to other benefit programs since it demonstrates recent work history. Don't stress too much about it affecting your other applications - being honest upfront will save you headaches later if they discover the income through their verification processes anyway.
0 coins