This entire thread has been such a lifesaver! I've been on unemployment for about a month and was literally losing sleep over whether touching my 401k would mess up my benefits. The way everyone has explained the distinction between wages and retirement distributions makes so much sense - unemployment is specifically about replacing lost employment income, not tracking every financial transaction. What really stands out to me is how unanimous everyone's experiences have been across different withdrawal amounts and timeframes. It's clear that NYS Department of Labor has a very specific focus on work-related income when it comes to weekly certifications. I feel so much more confident now about handling my own financial emergency without worrying about jeopardizing my unemployment claim. Thank you to Miguel for asking this important question and to everyone who took the time to share their real-world experiences - this kind of community support is invaluable when you're trying to navigate these systems during an already stressful time!

I'm so relieved to have found this thread! I've been on unemployment for about 3 weeks and was considering a 401k withdrawal for some unexpected dental work that insurance won't cover. I was really worried it might affect my benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It's fascinating how consistent all your stories are - different amounts, different timeframes, but the same result every time. The way everyone explains the distinction between wages and retirement distributions really clicked for me. NYS Department of Labor is clearly focused on employment income specifically, not every source of money that might come your way. I especially appreciate how people mentioned keeping good records for tax purposes while confirming it won't impact the unemployment claim itself. This kind of real-world community knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to decode official policy language when you're already stressed about being out of work. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly!

Just went through this process last year when I started my consulting firm. The initial rate for new employers is actually set by your industry classification (NAICS code) - some industries start higher than others due to historical claim patterns. Construction and restaurants typically start around 5-6% while professional services might start at 3-4%. You'll get your official rate assignment after your first few quarters of reporting. Also heads up - you have to register within 10 days of hiring your first employee or you face penalties. The online registration through the NYS Department of Labor website is pretty straightforward once you have your EIN.

The NYS Department of Labor publishes industry rate schedules but they're not super easy to find on their website. Your best bet is to call their employer services line directly - they can tell you the starting rate for your specific NAICS code over the phone. When I was planning my business budget, I also reached out to other business owners in my industry through local business associations to get real-world examples of what they were paying. Most were pretty open about sharing their experience once I explained I was just starting out. Also worth noting that if you're planning to use contractors vs employees, that completely changes the unemployment insurance picture since you typically don't pay UI on 1099 contractors.

Also worth mentioning that while you're navigating this situation, make sure you're still certifying for benefits if your online account allows it, even after your balance hits zero. Sometimes there can be delays in the system updating, and you don't want to miss out on any potential payments if Extended Benefits become available or if there are any adjustments to your claim. I learned this the hard way when I stopped certifying thinking I was done, then found out later I had missed a few weeks of potential benefits when EB kicked in. The NYS DOL representatives told me it's better to keep certifying until you get a definitive message that your claim is completely closed and no extensions are available.

I'm in almost the exact same situation - my benefits ended in January and I've been trying to figure out my options ever since. What I learned after calling multiple times is that you need to have earned at least 10 times your weekly benefit rate in wages AFTER your original benefit year started to qualify for a new claim. So if your weekly benefit was $300, you'd need at least $3,000 in wages from work you did while collecting benefits. The November part-time work you mentioned could definitely count if it meets that threshold. I'd also suggest checking your online account regularly because sometimes Extended Benefits can activate without much fanfare - New York's unemployment rate fluctuates and when it hits certain triggers, EB automatically becomes available for eligible claimants. Keep documenting everything and don't give up!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The key thing is to be completely transparent about your work start date on your final weekly certification. You'll file one last weekly claim where you report that you're starting work (include the exact date), and then you simply stop filing after that. NYS DOL will automatically close your claim after a period of inactivity. Don't worry about "canceling" anything - there's no formal cancellation process. Just make sure you don't continue to certify for weeks when you're working full-time, as that would create an overpayment issue. Good luck with the new job!

Congratulations on landing the new job! I just want to emphasize what others have said about being extra careful with that final weekly claim. When you report your start date, make sure it's the exact date - not approximate. I've seen people run into issues because they weren't precise with dates. Also, if your new job starts mid-week, you'll need to report any days you worked during that benefit week along with your earnings. NYS Department of Labor is very thorough about cross-checking employment records, so accuracy is key. Once you stop filing, you should receive a determination letter in a few weeks confirming your claim closure. Keep all your documentation from your UI claim period just in case!

As someone who just went through filing a second unemployment claim in NY, I wanted to add my voice to this conversation! I was in almost exactly the same situation - filed my first claim in 2021 after a restaurant closure, then had to file again last year when my retail job ended due to store closure. I was so nervous about filing the second time because I thought maybe there was a rule against it, but it turned out to be totally fine. The thing that helped me the most was calling the NY Department of Labor directly to ask about my eligibility before filing. Yes, the wait times are brutal, but once I got through, the representative was super helpful and confirmed that as long as you've worked enough since your last claim period ended, you're eligible for a new claim. She also mentioned that many people file multiple claims throughout their careers - it's completely normal! One thing I wish I had known: keep really good records of all your jobs between claims. They'll want detailed information about your work history, and having everything organized beforehand makes the application process much smoother. Also, don't delay filing once you're eligible - I learned that lesson the hard way by waiting almost two weeks after my job ended, thinking I needed to have everything perfectly prepared first.

I'm so grateful for this thread! I was literally just laid off from my job at a logistics company yesterday and have been panicking about whether I could file for unemployment again. I used benefits back in 2020 during the pandemic when my previous employer had to shut down temporarily. Like many of you, I was convinced there must be some kind of rule preventing multiple claims. Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring - especially hearing from people who've filed 3-4 times over their careers with no issues. I had no idea about the Sunday filing tip or that you need to re-register for job search services even if you've done it before. These are exactly the kinds of details that could make or break the application process. I've been putting together my employment history from the past 18 months as suggested, and I'm planning to file this Sunday. It's amazing how much stress this community has helped relieve - thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences! For anyone else in this situation, this thread is basically a complete guide to filing multiple unemployment claims in NY.