I've been through this several times over the past year. "Scheduled for processing" almost always means they're doing a manual review of something in your claim. Since you mentioned reporting part-time earnings, that's definitely the trigger - the system has to verify your work hours and calculate your partial benefits. In my experience, it usually takes 2-4 business days to clear. Don't worry, as long as you were honest about your earnings and availability, your payment will come through. Just keep an eye on your correspondence inbox in case they need any additional documentation from you.

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I started doing some freelance work while on unemployment. The "scheduled for processing" status appeared right after I reported my first week of earnings, and I was terrified I had messed something up. It took about 3 business days to process, but once it did, everything went smoothly. The key thing I learned is to be really precise when reporting your gross earnings and hours worked - even small discrepancies can cause delays. Also, make sure you're reporting earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. Once the system learns your pattern of part-time work, future certifications usually process faster. Hang in there!

I've been on unemployment for about 4 months and traveled twice - once for a family emergency (3 days) and once for a wedding (weekend). Both times I was completely honest on my weekly certification. For the family emergency, I answered "no" to being available for work those days and didn't receive benefits for that period. For the wedding, since it was just a weekend and I was back Monday morning, I continued to claim normally but made sure I could genuinely return for any interviews. The key is being truthful about your availability. NYS DOL would rather you be honest than try to game the system. If you're truly unavailable for work (can't interview, can't start a job immediately), don't claim for those days. It's better to lose a few days of benefits than deal with overpayment issues later.

I just went through this exact situation last month! I was on unemployment and wanted to visit my brother in California for 8 days. After reading horror stories about people getting overpayment notices, I decided to play it completely safe. I contacted NYS DOL beforehand (took forever to get through) and they confirmed that if you're not genuinely available for work - meaning you couldn't accept a job offer or attend an interview with reasonable notice - you shouldn't claim benefits for those days. So I didn't file my weekly certification for that week at all. When I returned and resumed filing, there were no issues whatsoever. Yes, I lost about $480 in benefits, but the peace of mind was worth it. My advice: if you're going to be in Florida for a full week and realistically couldn't drop everything to fly back for a job interview, don't claim for those days. NYS DOL is really cracking down on the "able and available" requirement post-COVID.

I was in a similar situation last year! I'm also on SSDI and was able to get unemployment benefits while looking for part-time work that accommodated my limitations. The key thing is being completely transparent with both agencies. When I applied for unemployment, I had to provide detailed medical documentation about what types of work I could do despite my disability. NYS DOL was actually pretty reasonable once I explained my situation properly. Yes, there's always a risk of triggering a disability review, but as long as you're honest about your capabilities and limitations, you should be okay. The Ticket to Work program that someone mentioned is definitely worth looking into too - it provides some protection while you transition back to work. Don't let fear stop you from trying to improve your situation!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my perspective as someone who works with disability advocacy. The confusion about unemployment and disability eligibility is really common, and it stems from the fact that these programs use different definitions of "disability" and "ability to work." For SSDI, you're considered disabled if you can't perform substantial gainful activity at the level you did before. But for unemployment, you just need to be able and available for some type of work, even if it's different from your previous job or has accommodations. The key is having clear medical documentation that outlines exactly what you CAN do, not just what you can't do. I'd recommend getting a functional capacity evaluation from your doctor that specifies things like "can sit for 4 hours with breaks" or "can lift up to 10 pounds" rather than just "has back problems." This gives both agencies concrete information to work with and helps avoid the appearance of contradiction between being "disabled" and "able to work.

Bottom line: you CAN technically collect both, but it's risky. The unemployment claim could trigger a disability review. If you do decide to file, make sure you're completely honest about your limitations on both your unemployment application and in any communications with Social Security. Document everything and consider getting legal advice first.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and learned the hard way that timing matters a lot. If you're still within your trial work period (first 9 months of work attempts while on SSDI), Social Security is generally more lenient about work activities. But once you're past that, filing for unemployment gets much trickier. I'd suggest calling Social Security directly first to discuss your specific situation before doing anything with NYS DOL. They have a work incentives hotline (1-866-968-7842) where you can ask hypothetical questions without triggering a formal review. Also keep detailed records of your doctor's recommendations about part-time work capacity - this documentation could be crucial if SSA does question your disability status later.

I went through a similar situation about a year ago after being released. You definitely can collect unemployment in NY - the key is having enough work credits from before your incarceration. I'd recommend gathering all your employment documents (W-2s, pay stubs, etc.) before you apply online. One thing that helped me was contacting some reentry organizations like The Osborne Association or Center for Employment Opportunities - they have job counselors who understand the system and can help you navigate both the unemployment process and job searching with a record. They also count as valid job search contacts for your weekly certification. Don't get discouraged by the process - it can take a few weeks but you have rights to these benefits if you earned them.

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. One thing I learned is that NY actually has some protections for formerly incarcerated people applying for unemployment - they can't deny your claim solely based on your criminal history. What matters is your work history and earnings during the "base period" (typically the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters). Since you worked for 2 years at the warehouse, you likely have enough work credits. When you file online through ny.gov, focus on your work history and be honest about your availability to work. Also, start documenting your job search activities now - keep records of every application, contact, and interview because you'll need to certify weekly that you're actively seeking work. The system can be frustrating but you earned those benefits through your previous work.