Just want to add that when you do file, make sure you're ready to start your weekly claims right away and keep track of your job search activities. NYS Department of Labor requires you to be actively looking for work and you'll need to document that.

Don't beat yourself up about missing those 6 weeks - it's a really common mistake! The important thing is to file NOW before you lose any more time. When you apply online, you'll put your actual layoff date from 6 weeks ago as your separation date, but your benefit payments will only start from the week you file the claim. Also make sure you have your employer's info handy (company name, address, reason for separation) and be prepared to start doing your weekly certifications right away. The sooner you get this process started, the sooner you can start receiving benefits while you continue your job search.

I work in manufacturing and we've had several unplanned shutdowns over the years for equipment issues, safety inspections, and even power outages. You're absolutely entitled to unemployment benefits for any period where your employer reduces your hours to zero, even if it's just a few days. The key is filing your claim right away - don't wait until the shutdown actually happens. When you file, make sure to select "temporary layoff" or "lack of work" as your reason, and be clear that you expect to return to work. The NYS system handles these situations routinely, and your employer can't legally retaliate against you for filing a legitimate claim. I'd also recommend keeping any written notice about the shutdown (email, text, posted notice) just in case, though it's not strictly required. The whole process usually takes about 15-20 minutes online and you should see your benefits within a week. Don't feel bad about filing - this is exactly what the unemployment system is designed for!

I had a similar shutdown situation at my job about 6 months ago when our facility had to close for emergency HVAC repairs. Filed for unemployment that same day and received benefits for the 5 days we were out. The process was surprisingly smooth - just make sure when you file online that you clearly indicate it's a temporary layoff and that you're expecting to return to work. Also, don't worry about the one-week waiting period that some people mention - New York eliminated that for most claims. You should be able to get benefits starting from your first day of unemployment. The whole application took me maybe 20 minutes, and I had my debit card with the benefits within about a week. Your employer deals with this stuff regularly, so there's no reason to stress about job security over filing a legitimate claim.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon this thread! I've been dealing with this exact same frustrating issue since I started my new job in mid-January - those weekly filing reminders just keep coming despite my claim showing as "exhausted." Like so many others here, I was completely focused on trying to figure out how to delete my entire my.ny.gov account, thinking that was the only way to make it stop. But after reading through all the incredibly helpful advice from @Hannah Flores, @Ravi Gupta, @Ethan Campbell, and everyone else who shared their experiences, I now understand that keeping the account active is actually the smarter long-term strategy. I just implemented the three-step solution that everyone has been recommending: updated my employment status to "Currently Employed," unchecked all the unemployment-related email notifications in my account preferences, and submitted a "Report a Problem" request with a detailed explanation of my situation. Based on the timelines that others have shared, I'm hopeful that the weekly emails will stop within the next 1-2 weeks. This community has been such a lifesaver - the practical, step-by-step solutions shared here are infinitely more useful than anything I could find through official NYS DOL channels or their nearly impossible-to-reach customer service. Thank you all for taking the time to share what actually worked instead of just venting about the broken system. This thread should definitely be bookmarked as a resource for anyone dealing with this common but annoying issue!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful to have found this thread! I've been struggling with this exact same problem for about 6 weeks now - started my new job in February but those weekly filing reminder emails just won't quit. Like everyone else here, I was completely convinced that deleting my my.ny.gov account was the only solution, but after reading through all the amazing advice from @Hannah Flores, @Ravi Gupta, and @Ethan Campbell, I realize that would have been a huge mistake! I just followed the three-step approach that everyone's been recommending: updated my employment status to "Currently Employed," unchecked all unemployment-related notifications in my account preferences, and submitted a detailed "Report a Problem" request explaining that I'm working and want the weekly reminders to stop. Based on all the success stories shared here, I'm optimistic that the emails will finally stop within the next week or two. This community has been absolutely incredible - I've learned more practical solutions from this one thread than from hours of searching the official NYS DOL website and trying to reach their impossible customer service. It's such a relief to know there's actually a working solution that doesn't involve starting from scratch if I ever need benefits again. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and what actually worked!

I'm currently on unemployment and had to deal with a similar situation last month when I had a pre-planned family trip to Canada. I was absolutely terrified about reporting it, but after reading horror stories about people getting caught in audits years later, I knew I had to be upfront. I called NYS DOL about 3 weeks before my trip and explained it was a family emergency that couldn't be postponed. The agent was actually very professional about it and told me to just skip filing my weekly claims while I was gone (5 days total). I lost about $700 in benefits, which hurt, but when I came back and resumed filing everything went smoothly. What really helped me was being completely honest - I even offered to provide documentation if needed, though they didn't ask for it. The agent mentioned they deal with legitimate family situations all the time and appreciate when people handle it properly rather than trying to hide it. For your sister's wedding, this is exactly the type of family milestone they understand. Don't risk your entire claim over a couple weeks of benefits - call them now, explain the situation honestly, and enjoy the wedding stress-free!

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with my cousin's wedding in Spain. I was absolutely terrified about how NYS DOL would react, but I'm so glad I found advice similar to what everyone is sharing here. I called them about 4 weeks before my trip (took multiple attempts over several days to get through) and when I explained it was a family wedding that had been planned long before I lost my job, the agent was incredibly understanding. She actually congratulated me on the family celebration and said destination weddings are very common situations they handle. I ended up losing about $1,600 in benefits for those 2 weeks I was away, which definitely hurt financially, but the peace of mind was invaluable. When I returned and resumed filing, everything went perfectly smooth - no complications, no flags, just business as usual. The agent even mentioned that family weddings are exactly the kind of legitimate life events they expect people to need time for, and they much prefer transparency over people trying to hide travel. Hannah, your sister's wedding is precisely the situation they're equipped to handle with understanding and professionalism. Call them this week, be completely honest about the family celebration, and don't let this stress overshadow what should be a joyful occasion. After reading all these consistent experiences here, it's clear that doing it the right way upfront saves so much anxiety and potential problems down the road!

I'm a per diem pharmacy tech and went through this EXACT same situation! After going back and forth with anxiety for weeks, I finally got clarification from an unemployment specialist (took forever to get through). Here's what they told me: if shifts are just posted on a general board/app for anyone to grab, that's NOT considered "refusing work" even if you see them and choose not to take them. "Refusing work" only applies when someone specifically contacts YOU with a shift offer and you decline it. I've been answering NO to refusing work when I just don't claim open shifts, and my benefits have been fine for 4 months now. The key is documentation - I screenshot available shifts vs any direct communications, just in case. Hope this helps ease your mind!

I'm also per diem (respiratory therapist) and this conversation has been such a relief! I was literally having nightmares about accidentally committing unemployment fraud because the questions are so confusing for our work situation. After reading all the expert advice here, especially from @Sofia Ramirez and @Zainab Omar, I finally understand the key distinction - if shifts are just posted on a portal/board for anyone to claim, that's NOT the same as being specifically offered work that you refuse. I've been answering the same way (NO to refusing work when I just don't pick up shifts from our staffing app) and it's good to know so many other per diem healthcare workers are in the same boat. The documentation tip is great too - I'm going to start keeping records of what shifts were available vs any direct communications. It's honestly ridiculous that NY unemployment doesn't have clearer guidance for per diem workers when we make up such a huge part of the healthcare workforce. This thread should be required reading for anyone doing per diem work!