I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation and this entire thread has been incredibly valuable! I had my baby 5 weeks ago and my small employer also permanently filled my position while I was on unpaid maternity leave. Reading everyone's experiences and advice here has given me so much clarity on how to approach this. A few things I wanted to add that might help others: 1) I found that NY DOL fact sheet that CosmicCaptain mentioned - it's under "Pregnancy and Unemployment Benefits" in their FAQ section. It specifically states that if your job is eliminated while on maternity leave, you may be eligible for benefits once medically cleared to work. 2) For those struggling with the phone system, I've had success calling exactly at 8:00 AM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - seems like Mondays and Fridays are even more swamped. 3) When documenting your job search, make sure to save the actual job posting URLs/screenshots, not just company names. The DOL may ask for specific details about positions you've applied for. It's really encouraging to see people like CosmicCaptain and Mateo who successfully navigated this process. The stress of dealing with unemployment bureaucracy while caring for a newborn is overwhelming, but this community has shown that it's definitely possible to get the benefits we're entitled to. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're helping more new parents than you probably realize!

Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been working in employment law for the past 8 years, I can confirm that the advice given here is spot on. The key distinction that everyone's correctly identified is that you're not claiming benefits because you left for maternity leave - you're claiming because your position was eliminated while you were on approved leave. That's a crucial difference in NY unemployment law. A few additional points that might help: 1) Make sure to file your claim as soon as possible - there's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and delays in filing can affect your benefit start date. 2) When asked about your reason for unemployment on the application, select "lack of work" or "position eliminated" rather than anything related to personal/family reasons. 3) Keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - every conversation, every document, every job application. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case. 4) If you get denied initially (which sometimes happens even with valid claims), don't give up! You have the right to appeal and provide additional documentation. The fact that you have text messages from your employer about hiring a permanent replacement is excellent evidence. Combined with your medical clearance to work, you have a strong case for benefits. Best of luck to you and congratulations on your new baby!

I went through something similar a few years ago. The key thing to understand is that NYS Department of Labor looks at your intent and availability for work. If you're truly retiring and not planning to seek new employment, you won't qualify. However, if your company is downsizing or offering buyouts and you're willing to work elsewhere, that might be treated differently than a traditional retirement. I'd suggest calling the unemployment office directly to discuss your specific situation - they can give you a definitive answer based on your circumstances. Also consider looking into partial retirement options with your current employer or exploring contract/part-time work to bridge the gap until your pension kicks in.

I've been through a similar transition and wanted to share what I learned. The distinction between "retirement" and "layoff with retirement eligibility" can be crucial here. If your company is restructuring or offering voluntary separation packages (even if they call it "early retirement"), you might have a case - especially if you can demonstrate you're still willing and able to work elsewhere. The key is how you frame it when applying. Document everything about your company's situation and be prepared to show you're actively job searching if you do apply. Also, consider that even if you don't qualify initially, you can appeal decisions. I'd recommend consulting with an employment attorney who specializes in unemployment cases - many offer free consultations and can review your specific circumstances. Don't give up without exploring all options, especially since you've contributed to the system for 15 years.

I'm brand new to this community and just joined because I'll be filing my NY unemployment claim next week. This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to read through - I had no idea there could be so many issues with direct deposits or that there were specific workarounds like the secure message center approach. The consistency of success stories using "DD REJECTION" as the subject line is really encouraging, especially seeing those 24-48 hour response times that multiple people have reported. What's also really eye-opening is learning about all the different root causes - name formatting differences, bank merger impacts on ACH processing, system flags from address updates, and the ongoing issues from that April system update. The banking industry perspective that was just shared is particularly valuable in understanding that these are often failed ACH attempts rather than true rejections. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire conversation as my reference guide. What I appreciate most about this community is how people actually come back to share detailed results and specific tips (like checking spam folders) instead of just disappearing once their problems are solved. Thank you to everyone who's contributed their experiences - it makes navigating this system feel much less intimidating for newcomers like me!

I'm new to this community and just joined because I'm starting my NY unemployment claim process soon. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - reading through everyone's detailed experiences and solutions has taught me more about navigating potential direct deposit issues than I could have learned anywhere else. The consistent success stories with the secure message center approach using "DD REJECTION" as the subject line are really encouraging, especially with those reliable 24-48 hour response times multiple people have reported. It's also incredibly helpful to understand all the various root causes that can trigger these problems - name formatting mismatches between NYSDOL and bank systems, ACH processing changes from bank mergers, system flags from address updates, and the ongoing complications from that April system update. The banking industry perspective that was shared really clarified that these are often failed ACH attempts due to formatting issues rather than true rejections, which explains why banks don't show any attempted deposits. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire conversation as my reference guide. What I appreciate most is how supportive this community is - people actually take the time to come back and share what worked for them with specific details and timelines instead of just disappearing once their issues are resolved. Thanks to everyone for creating such a comprehensive and helpful resource for newcomers like me navigating this complex system!

For your specific case with the safety complaints, make sure you file your weekly claims and answer the separation questions honestly. Mention that you quit due to unsafe working conditions and hostile treatment after raising legitimate safety concerns. NYS Department of Labor will likely schedule a fact-finding interview to get details about the constructive discharge claim. Having that documentation will be crucial during that process.

Just wanted to add that NYS Department of Labor also considers domestic violence situations, workplace discrimination, and significant changes to your job duties/pay as potential "no fault" reasons for leaving. The key thing is being able to show that a reasonable person in your situation would have felt compelled to quit. Document everything you can - emails, witness statements, dates of incidents, any company policies that were violated. Even if they initially deny your claim, you have appeal rights and many people win on appeal with proper documentation.

Just wanted to add that even though layoffs are clearly "no fault of your own," it's still worth understanding the other scenarios that qualify. Things like company closure, reduction in force, end of seasonal work, or even constructive discharge (where working conditions become so bad you're forced to quit) can all meet the requirement. The key is that the separation from employment wasn't due to your actions or misconduct. Keep all your documentation from the layoff - not just the letter but any emails about the budget cuts or downsizing. It helps paint a clear picture that this was a business decision, not performance-related.

One thing that might help put your mind at ease is that NYS Department of Labor has pretty clear guidelines about what constitutes "fault" versus "no fault." Since you mentioned you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's actually one of the most clear-cut examples of "no fault of your own" - the company made a business decision that had nothing to do with your performance or behavior. The department looks at whether the separation was due to misconduct, voluntary quit without good cause, or refusal of suitable work. None of those apply to your situation. Budget-related layoffs are routine approvals as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements like work history and wage requirements.