Hey Andre, I went through something really similar last year. One thing that helped me was looking into whether my employer was violating labor laws - like if they're cutting your hours without proper notice or creating an unsafe work environment, that could actually work in your favor for an unemployment claim. NYS Department of Labor has specific rules about "good cause" for leaving, and some things that seem like normal bad management are actually violations. You might want to file a complaint with the Department of Labor about the working conditions WHILE you're still employed - this creates a paper trail that shows you tried to address the issues before leaving. Even if you don't get the workplace issues resolved, having that complaint on file can really strengthen your case if you do end up having to quit and apply for benefits.

I was in a really similar situation a few months ago - toxic manager, unpredictable schedule changes, the whole nightmare. What I learned is that just walking away without notice is definitely risky for unemployment benefits, but there are some strategies that worked for me. First, I started documenting EVERYTHING - every time my hours got cut, every inappropriate comment from management, every policy violation I witnessed. Then I filed complaints with NYS Department of Labor about the scheduling issues and workplace environment while I was still employed. This created an official record that I was trying to address legitimate workplace problems. When I eventually had to leave (I gave two weeks notice citing the documented issues), my unemployment claim was approved because I had established a pattern of trying to resolve workplace violations before quitting. The key is building that paper trail that shows you didn't just abandon your job on a whim, but were responding to genuine workplace problems that your employer failed to address.

I went through this exact same panic about 8 months ago when I discovered I had been reporting my part-time restaurant shifts incorrectly for about 6 weeks. I was absolutely terrified and convinced I was going to be arrested. After finally calling the NYS DOL (took me weeks to work up the courage), I found out I owed back about $920 in overpayments. They set me up on a payment plan for $80/month and there were no criminal charges whatsoever. The woman I spoke with was actually really kind and said that reporting errors happen all the time, especially with people who have irregular work schedules. She explained that they only pursue criminal cases when there's obvious intent to defraud - like people who work full-time and never report any of it, or systematic schemes involving fake identities. The fact that you're worried about this and asking questions shows you weren't trying to scam anyone. I know the anxiety is brutal, but in my experience the reality was so much less scary than what I had built up in my head.

I can really relate to your anxiety - I was in almost the identical situation about 4 months ago when I realized I had been reporting my gig work earnings incorrectly while collecting unemployment. I was absolutely convinced I was going to jail and barely slept for weeks. After finally gathering the courage to contact NYS DOL directly, I discovered I had an overpayment of around $1,100. They were surprisingly understanding when I explained it was genuine confusion about how to report inconsistent income from delivery apps. I'm now on a $90/month repayment plan with no criminal charges or legal consequences whatsoever. The caseworker actually told me that honest reporting mistakes are incredibly common and they see the difference between people who are genuinely confused versus those who are intentionally trying to defraud the system. She said criminal prosecutions are typically reserved for cases involving thousands of dollars, systematic fraud, or identity theft - not people who made good faith errors. The relief I felt after that conversation was incredible. Sometimes facing the problem head-on is so much less scary than the scenarios we create in our minds.

I'm in a similar situation - been collecting for about 16 weeks now and getting anxious about the time limit. What I found helpful was logging into my NY.gov account and looking at the "Payment History" section. It actually shows you how many weeks you've claimed so far, which helps you do the math on how many you have left. Also, I started keeping a spreadsheet tracking my weekly claims just so I have a clear picture of where I stand. The job market is definitely tough right now, but at least knowing exactly where you are in the 26-week timeline helps with planning. Has anyone had luck with temp agencies or contract work to bridge the gap while still looking for permanent positions?

Yes, you can work part-time or do temp work while collecting unemployment in NY and still receive partial benefits! The key is reporting all your earnings when you file your weekly claim. NYS uses a formula where they subtract a portion of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. As long as you earn less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50, you'll still get some unemployment benefits. Just make sure to report every penny you earn - even one day of temp work - or you could face penalties. I did some freelance work during my claim period and it actually helped stretch my benefits longer since I was getting partial payments instead of using up full weeks. The important thing is to keep looking for permanent full-time work and document those job search activities too.

The key thing to remember is that PFL and unemployment serve different purposes under NYS Department of Labor rules. PFL is administered through your employer's insurance carrier, while unemployment is directly through NYS Department of Labor. Make sure you understand which benefit better fits your current needs before making the switch.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. From what I've learned, you definitely need to be strategic about timing. Since you're already on unemployment, you might want to calculate whether PFL would provide better financial support for your family caregiving period. PFL typically pays about 67% of your average weekly wage (up to a cap), while unemployment varies. Also consider that PFL has a maximum duration of 12 weeks per benefit year, so you'll want to make sure that timeframe aligns with your mom's care needs. It's worth calling both programs to get exact figures for your situation before making the switch.

So I was about to throw my phone after 3 hours on hold when I remembered my cousin said he used something called Claimyr. I tried it the next day and got through in about an hour. It's kinda genius - they just automate the annoying part (waiting forever on hold) then connect you when a human picks up. Game changer for real.

Giovanni, I totally feel your frustration - I was in the exact same boat about 6 months ago. My claim was stuck in pending hell for almost 3 months and I was about to lose my apartment. After reading through all these comments, I actually tried that Claimyr service that multiple people mentioned and it genuinely worked. I was super skeptical at first because it seemed too good to be true, but they literally just handle the waiting on hold part and connect you once someone picks up. Got through to an actual human in under 2 hours and had my whole mess sorted out in one call. Worth every penny when you're facing eviction. The other tip that helped me was having EVERYTHING ready beforehand - all my documents, dates, previous case numbers, etc. When you finally get someone on the line, you want to be super organized so they can help you quickly. Hang in there, the system is absolutely broken but there are ways to work around it!