The NYS Department of Labor job search requirement is such a hassle! I understand why they need it but having to track everything when you're already stressed about being unemployed is frustrating. At least they don't make you submit it every week like some states do.

I've been using a simple Google Doc to track my job search activities and it works great! I set up columns for date, company name, position, contact method, and any follow-up actions needed. Since it's in the cloud I can access it from anywhere and it's easy to search if I need to find something specific. The key is being consistent about logging everything right after you do it - don't wait until the end of the week or you'll forget details.

I totally get the confusion! I went through the same thing when I first saw "effective days remaining" on my claim. What helped me understand it better is that NYS uses a benefit year system - so your 104 effective days (26 weeks) run from your initial claim date to exactly one year later, not just continuously. The tricky part is that if you find work and then become unemployed again within that same benefit year, you'd still be using up those original effective days. So even if you worked for a few months in between, those days keep counting down from your original total. It's definitely not the most intuitive system!

Just wanted to add for anyone reading this - you can also check your benefit year end date on the my.ny.gov portal under your claim summary. It's usually listed as "Benefit Year Ends" and shows the exact date one year from when you first filed. This helped me plan ahead when I was getting close to running out of effective days. Also, if you do need to file a new claim, make sure you have all your recent work history ready because they'll ask about any employment during your current benefit year, even if it was just temporary or part-time work.

I just went through this exact situation about a month ago and it was definitely stressful at first! The most important thing is to check your benefit year end date in your online account under the payment history section - this is completely separate from your effective days counter. Here's what I learned: If your benefit year has ended (or is about to end within a few days), you need to file a new claim immediately. If your benefit year is still active but you've run out of effective days, you might be eligible for an extension program - in that case, call NYSDOL to ask about current options. When I filed my new claim, the process took about 2.5 weeks but they backpaid me for every week I certified during that waiting period. The key is to KEEP CERTIFYING WEEKLY no matter what - this ensures you don't miss any payments. Pro tip: Have all your employment information from the past 18 months ready before you start the application - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, wages, and reason for separation. They ask for everything again even though they already have it from your previous claim. Don't panic - this is super common and once you know which path to take based on your benefit year end date, the process is straightforward. You've got this!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My effective days hit 0 last week and I've been so confused about what to do next. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was such an important difference between effective days running out and your benefit year ending. I just checked my online account and my benefit year actually ends in about 10 days, so it sounds like I definitely need to file a new claim soon rather than wait for extensions. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to start gathering my employment records from the past 18 months this weekend and file the new claim early next week. One quick question for those who recently went through this - when you kept certifying weekly during the new claim processing, did you certify using your old claim interface or was there a different process? I want to make sure I don't accidentally mess something up during the transition period. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - knowing that you all got backpaid for the processing weeks makes this so much less stressful! This thread really should be required reading for anyone approaching the end of their effective days.

I actually had a very similar situation about 6 months ago when my company moved from Binghamton to White Plains. The distance was about 160 miles and would have meant a 3+ hour commute each way. I was terrified that HR was right about it being considered a "voluntary quit," but I filed for unemployment anyway. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 3 weeks of review. The key was being very detailed in my application - I explained the exact mileage, calculated the daily commute time, estimated the additional gas and wear-and-tear costs (which would have been over $400/month), and mentioned that my spouse's job and our mortgage kept us rooted in Binghamton. I also included screenshots of the company's relocation announcement email. The adjudicator I spoke with was actually very understanding and said cases like this are more common than people think. Don't give up - your situation with Syracuse to Buffalo sounds even more clear-cut than mine was!

I went through a similar situation last year when my employer relocated from Utica to NYC - that's about a 250 mile move! I was initially panicked because HR told me the same thing about it being a "voluntary quit," but I filed for unemployment anyway and was approved. The NYS Department of Labor was very thorough in their review - they asked for documentation of the relocation notice, proof of the distance/commute time, and details about why relocating wasn't feasible for me (in my case, my partner's job and kids in school). The whole process took about 4 weeks, but they ultimately ruled it was "constructive dismissal" since the relocation created an undue hardship. Syracuse to Buffalo at 150+ miles is definitely well above the reasonable commuting distance threshold. My advice is to file as soon as possible after your last day of work, be extremely detailed in your application about why the move creates a hardship, and don't let HR's incorrect advice discourage you. They're not unemployment law experts and are often wrong about eligibility requirements.

Great to hear you got it working! That "confirm" step is so easy to miss - I almost made the same mistake when I filed my claim last fall. The system definitely needs better user interface design to make it clearer when you need to reactivate existing payment info for a new claim. Hope your payments come through smoothly from here on out!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - just filed a new claim after being on unemployment about 8 months ago. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like the key is to not just assume your info is saved, but to actually log in and verify everything is correct AND activated for the new claim. That confirmation step seems to be what trips people up the most. I'm definitely going to follow those detailed steps someone posted and take screenshots like another person suggested. Better safe than sorry when it comes to getting paid on time!