One thing to add - make sure you understand the difference between "accepting" a job offer and actually starting work. I learned the hard way that you can accept an offer on Monday but if you don't start until the following week, you're still unemployed for that entire week and should file your claim. The key date is when you actually begin working and earning wages, not when you shake hands on the deal. Also, keep all your paperwork (offer letter, start date confirmation, etc.) in case NYS Department of Labor ever needs to verify your timeline.

Just to add another perspective - I went through this transition last year and one thing that really helped was calling NYS Department of Labor the day before I started my new job to confirm I was handling everything correctly. The agent walked me through exactly how to file my final partial week claim and made sure I understood the reporting requirements. Even though the wait time was long, it gave me peace of mind knowing I was doing everything by the book. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities and any work you do - NYS Department of Labor can request this information during audits, and having everything documented makes the process much smoother if they ever need to review your case.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is calculated using your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at your wages from January 2024 through September 2024. This means if you had a pay raise recently or worked more hours in recent months, that might not be reflected in your benefit calculation. Also, just to clarify on the overtime question - yes, all wages including overtime, bonuses, and tips are counted when they calculate your weekly benefit rate. The good news is at $18/hour for 35 hours, you should qualify for benefits since you need to have earned at least $2,600 in your base period.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I just went through this process last month. I was making $19/hour at about 32 hours per week and ended up getting $285 weekly in benefits, which worked out to almost exactly 50% like everyone mentioned. The application process itself was pretty straightforward on the NYS DOL website, but definitely have all your employment history ready - they ask for details about every job you had in the past 18 months including start/end dates and reason for separation. One tip: when you certify for benefits each week, they ask if you did any work or earned any money. Be honest about any side gigs or part-time work because they will find out and it can affect your benefits. You can still work part-time while on unemployment but they'll reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn. Also, start applying for jobs right away and keep records because they require you to make at least 3 job contacts per week to remain eligible.

Wow, this thread is a goldmine of information! I'm facing the exact same situation with my small marketing agency and had no idea about some of these requirements. The Status of Account letter that Marcus mentioned sounds crucial - I'm definitely calling Monday at 8 AM to request that before I do anything else. The loan covenant issue Gabriel brought up is also eye-opening - I have an SBA loan and need to check if there are UI coverage requirements I'm unaware of. One question for the group: has anyone dealt with closing an account when you have remote employees in other states? I have two contractors who work from different states and I'm wondering if that complicates the closure process at all. Also, for those who went through the 18-month liability period, did you find it helpful to set aside a specific amount of money to cover potential claims, or did you just handle them as they came up? Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this is saving me from making some serious mistakes!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to the community but facing a similar situation with my small catering business that I need to close next month. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear there are way more steps involved than I initially thought. I'm definitely going to start with requesting that Status of Account letter first thing Monday morning using Isabella Santos's 8 AM calling tip. The points about loan covenants, downloading all records before losing portal access, and coordinating with final tax filings are all things I never would have considered on my own. One thing I'm curious about - for those who went through the closure process, did you find it helpful to work with an accountant or business attorney to make sure everything was done correctly, or were you able to handle it all directly with NYS DOL? Given all the potential complications mentioned in this thread (extended liability periods, audit triggers, loan covenant issues), I'm wondering if professional help might be worth the cost to avoid any mistakes. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing!

I'm currently in a really similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been getting $308/week in unemployment for about a month now and was honestly scared to even look into SNAP because I thought having any income would disqualify me. Reading everyone's real experiences here - especially seeing that people with weekly amounts so close to mine are getting approved for $180-200/month in benefits - is giving me the confidence to actually apply. That amount would literally cut my grocery stress in half right now. I'm planning to start the myBenefits application this weekend and have my unemployment determination letter ready like everyone suggested. One question I had - for those who mentioned uploading a lease for housing costs, did they accept month-to-month rental agreements or does it need to be a formal lease document? I'm in a month-to-month situation right now but do have documentation showing my monthly rent amount. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences so openly - this community is amazing for getting actual practical advice instead of just confusing government website language!

I just wanted to share my experience since I see so many people asking about this! I was getting $340/week in unemployment and successfully got approved for SNAP - ended up with $183/month in benefits which has been a huge help. The myBenefits application was honestly way easier than dealing with the unemployment system. Just make sure you have your determination letter ready and be accurate about your income. One thing I learned is that they actually want people on unemployment to get food assistance since UI benefits are temporary and often not enough to cover all basic needs. The whole process took about 22 days from application to getting my EBT card in the mail. Also, if your unemployment ever gets cut off or reduced, SNAP can actually increase your benefits to help bridge the gap. Don't hesitate to apply - the programs are designed to work together, not against each other!

I'm dealing with a similar discharge situation right now and this thread is super helpful! Just wanted to add that when you file online, the NYS Department of Labor system will walk you through different scenarios and ask specific questions about why your employment ended. They don't just give you a simple "fired" vs "discharged" dropdown - they'll ask things like "Were you told your performance was unsatisfactory?" or "Did you violate company policy?" So even though the terminology might seem confusing, the actual filing process is designed to capture the real circumstances. I'd recommend having your termination paperwork handy when you start the application so you can reference the exact reasons they gave you.

Just went through this exact same thing a few months ago! "Discharge" definitely threw me off at first too - it sounds so formal and scary. But yeah, it's literally just the official term NYS Department of Labor uses for "fired" or "terminated." The important thing isn't the word they use, but the reason behind it. Since your paperwork says "attendance issues," that could go either way depending on the specifics. Were these unexcused absences or did you have legitimate reasons like medical appointments, family emergencies, etc.? If you had valid reasons and documentation, that works in your favor. The DOL will do their own investigation and contact both you and your employer to get the full story. Don't stress too much about the terminology - focus on gathering your evidence and being completely honest when you file. Even if there's an initial denial, you can always appeal with additional documentation.