Florida definitely participates in the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan! I went through this exact process when I moved from NY to Tampa last year. The key is calling NYS Department of Labor's interstate unit directly at (518) 457-2635 - they handle all out-of-state transfers. You'll need to file a change of address with NY and register with Florida's CONNECT system for job search compliance. Start this process at least 2-3 weeks before your move to avoid any payment delays. Your $420 weekly benefit amount should continue unchanged since NY remains your paying state.

@Ava Garcia I went through this exact situation when I moved from NY to Arizona while on unemployment! The Interstate Benefit Payment Plan is definitely the way to go. One tip that really helped me - download and fill out form IA 5.3 from the NYS DOL website before you call. Having all your info ready (new address, move date, etc.) made the phone call so much smoother. Also, once you get to Florida, register with their CareerSource system within your first week there - they're pretty strict about the job search requirements and you don't want any compliance issues that could interrupt your payments. The whole process took about 10 days for me, but I started it 3 weeks before moving which gave plenty of buffer time. Good luck with your move!

same boat here!! got laid off from my restaurant job and hoping unemployment covers at least my rent. this whole thing is so stressful

Just went through this process myself! At $65k annually, you're looking at roughly $1,250 per week before taxes. In NY, you'll likely hit the maximum weekly benefit of $504 since the formula caps out around that level for higher earners. The good news is that overtime definitely counts - they look at ALL wages reported during your base period. One tip: file your claim online at ny.gov as soon as possible since there's a one-week waiting period before payments begin. Also keep detailed records of your job search activities since NY requires you to document your work search efforts. The process can be overwhelming but the benefits do help bridge the gap while you're looking for your next opportunity!

Just went through one of these appointments yesterday and wanted to jump in with my experience! I was totally stressed about it too after getting that same "REIMAGINE Your Career" message - the wording really does make it sound more dramatic than it is. Mine was over Zoom and lasted about 25 minutes. The counselor was actually super chill and mainly just wanted to confirm I was doing my required job search activities. I had a basic list of applications (just company names and dates in a notebook) and she was totally fine with that level of documentation. The best part - when I mentioned I'd been helping out at my local library as a volunteer, she was really positive about it! She said it showed I was staying active and engaged while job searching, which is exactly what they want to see. So definitely bring up your school volunteering - they'll probably see it as a great thing. Since it's virtual, you might be able to work around your volunteering schedule easier than you think. You could potentially do it earlier in the day or even from your phone if needed. But if you absolutely have to reschedule, try calling the career center number (not the regular unemployment line) right at 8 AM - that's when you're most likely to get through. Try not to worry too much! These counselors really aren't trying to trip anyone up. They just want to see you're making an honest effort with your job search. The fact that you're already volunteering shows exactly the kind of initiative they're looking for. You'll be fine!

Just wanted to add my perspective since I went through this exact situation about 6 weeks ago! I was super anxious about the appointment too, especially because I had a conflict with a volunteer commitment at my daughter's daycare. The appointment ended up being way less stressful than I expected - about 30 minutes over Zoom with a really understanding counselor. She mainly just wanted to verify I was actively job searching and meeting the work requirements. I had a simple list of jobs I'd applied to (nothing fancy, just company names and dates) and that was totally sufficient. Here's the key thing - definitely mention your school volunteering! When I brought up my daycare volunteer work, the counselor was genuinely impressed and said it showed community engagement and skill development. They actually view volunteer activities as a huge positive because it demonstrates you're staying productive while job searching. I ended up being able to reschedule by calling the career center number directly at exactly 8:00 AM - got through after about 15 minutes on hold. Much better than trying the main unemployment line! Don't stress too much about this - these counselors aren't looking for reasons to cut benefits. They just want to see you're making a genuine effort. Your volunteering commitment actually shows the exact kind of responsible attitude they want to see. You've got this!

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.

OMG I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Just got a Wisely card yesterday that looked super sketchy - plain white envelope with barely any official branding. I was literally about to shred it thinking it was some identity theft scam. But after reading all these comments I'm realizing it might actually be my unemployment benefits! I've been collecting since September and always got direct deposit, so getting this random card totally freaked me out. Plus I've been missing some payments from last month that I couldn't figure out - maybe they're on this card?? Going to call the number on the back today to check the balance. It's absolutely insane that they switch payment methods without any warning whatsoever. Like how hard would it be to send a simple email or letter explaining what's happening?? The whole NY unemployment system is such a disaster. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - you probably just saved me from throwing away my own money! Will update once I find out if there's actually anything on this card 🤞

I just called the number on my Wisely card and you guys were absolutely right - it had $1,847 of my unemployment benefits on it! I was literally seconds away from throwing it in the trash thinking it was a scam. The whole thing is so poorly communicated by NY unemployment it's unreal. The customer service rep confirmed they've been switching people to these cards "due to system processing changes" but admitted they don't notify people beforehand which is absolutely ridiculous. For anyone else dealing with this - you really do just need the card number and security code to check the balance, no SSN required. Once I confirmed it was legit I immediately transferred everything to my bank account through their website. There's a small fee for the transfer but way better than dealing with ATM fees or accidentally losing the card. Thank you SO much to everyone who shared their experiences here - you literally saved me from throwing away almost $2000! The NY unemployment system is a complete mess but at least this community has each other's backs. If anyone else gets one of these random cards, definitely check the balance before tossing it!