I'm at week 6 and this entire thread has been a massive eye-opener! I had absolutely no idea that the extension process was this complicated or that the "automatic" system was so unreliable. Reading everyone's experiences has completely shifted my strategy from "wait and see" to "be proactive NOW." The claimyr service sounds like an absolute lifesaver - I've already tried calling the DOL twice and each time I gave up after 2+ hours on hold. For $20 to actually speak with a human being who can give real answers? That's honestly a bargain compared to potentially losing weeks of payments. I'm definitely going to start keeping meticulous records of every job application, interview, and networking contact from this point forward. It's frustrating that we have to be this organized just to access benefits we're entitled to, but better safe than sorry! What really gets me is how this community thread has provided more clear, actionable guidance than the entire DOL website. It's honestly shameful that people have to crowdsource basic information about their unemployment benefits because the state makes everything so confusing and inaccessible. Marilyn, you've basically created the unofficial survival guide for NY unemployment extensions! Thank you for asking the question we all needed answered. I'm going to bookmark this thread and start preparing way earlier than I originally planned. Better to be overprepared than scrambling in panic mode at week 25! 🙏

I'm at week 20 and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Like everyone else, I was planning to just wait until week 26 and hope everything worked automatically, but clearly that would be a huge mistake based on all the experiences shared here. The claimyr service keeps getting mentioned and honestly at this point I'm convinced it's worth trying. I've already wasted two full days trying to get through on the regular DOL phone line with zero success. $20 to avoid that nightmare and actually talk to someone who can give me real answers about my extension eligibility seems like the best money I could spend right now. I'm also going to start keeping way better records of my job search activities. I've been pretty casual about documenting applications and interviews, but it sounds like having detailed records could be crucial if there are any issues with the extension approval process. What really frustrates me is how the official DOL website is basically useless for getting clear information about extensions. Thank god for communities like this where people share what actually works! The fact that we have to crowdsource basic information about our own benefits because the state makes everything so confusing is honestly infuriating. Marilyn, thanks for starting this conversation - you've basically created the resource the DOL should have provided us with! Going to be proactive and try to get this sorted in the next week or two before I get too close to that 26 week deadline. Good luck to everyone dealing with this broken system! 🤞

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now and it's been causing me so much anxiety! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially hearing from the HR and recruiting perspectives. I had no idea that employers ask this for practical reasons rather than to discriminate. I've been overthinking it so much that I was actually avoiding applying to certain jobs because I was scared of that question. Now I realize I should just be honest and focus on showing my genuine interest in each specific role. Does anyone have tips for how to handle it if they ask about it during a phone screen or interview, not just on the written application?

I've been struggling with this same question and all the responses here have been so enlightening! As someone who just started collecting NYS Department of Labor benefits after being laid off from my marketing job, I was terrified that admitting it would automatically disqualify me. But hearing from HR professionals and recruiters that it's actually viewed neutrally (or even positively when handled right) is such a relief. I especially appreciate the advice about framing it as being selective in your job search rather than just needing any income. I'm going to stop letting this question paralyze me and start focusing on what really matters - showing employers why I'm genuinely excited about their specific opportunities. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and helping ease my anxiety about this!

Hey Felicity! I completely understand that panic feeling - I've been in your exact shoes before and it's absolutely terrifying when you're already stressed about everything else. The good news is you're not out of luck at all! You can definitely still certify for last week. When you log into your NY DOL account, look for "Weekly Certification" or "Claim Weekly Benefits" - there should be a dropdown menu where you can select previous weeks that you haven't certified for yet. Sometimes you have to click around a bit because the website layout isn't the most intuitive, but the option is definitely there. You typically have until Saturday night to certify for the missed week, so you still have time to breathe! Your payment will be delayed by a few days compared to your usual schedule, but you won't lose the benefits for that week entirely - which was my biggest fear when this happened to me. If you can't find the right option online or run into any technical glitches, calling is your backup plan. The hold times are brutal, but the reps can help you certify over the phone once you finally get through. After you get this sorted out, I'd definitely recommend setting up multiple reminders! I learned my lesson the hard way and now have a phone alarm every Sunday plus a calendar notification. Being unemployed is stressful enough without having to be perfect with every deadline. Don't beat yourself up about this - we're all human and life happens. You're going to get through this! Let us know how it goes! 💙

Hey Felicity! I totally get that panic - missed my certification a couple months back and felt like my world was ending. The stress of unemployment already makes it hard to keep track of everything! Good news is you're not screwed! Log into your NY DOL account and look for "Weekly Certification" or "Claim Weekly Benefits" - should be a dropdown to select previous weeks. Sometimes it's buried in the menu, so don't give up if you don't see it immediately. You usually have until Saturday to certify for the missed week, so you've got time! Payment will be delayed a few days but you won't lose the week entirely. If the website gives you trouble, calling is worth it despite the awful hold times. The reps are usually understanding since this happens way more than you'd think. Pro tip: After you sort this out, set multiple reminders! I now have a Sunday phone alarm AND put a sticky note on my coffee maker. Sounds excessive but my stressed brain needs all the help it can get 😅 Don't beat yourself up - we're all just trying to survive this process. You've got this! 💪

Hey @Zara Perez! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago. The process is actually pretty straightforward once you know what to do. When you certify for your last week (the week ending before you start work), make sure to answer "YES" when they ask if your employment status changed and enter November 17th as your return-to-work date. After that, just stop certifying - don't file a new claim or anything. Your claim stays open for a full year in case you need it again, but it goes inactive once you stop certifying. The key is being honest about your work status on that final certification. I was worried about the same things you mentioned, but as long as you don't keep certifying after you start working, you'll be totally fine. Congrats on landing the job! 🎉

I just went through this same process a couple months back! The good news is it's actually pretty simple once you know the steps. Here's what worked for me: 1. For your last certification (the week before you start work), answer YES when asked if your employment status changed and put in your November 17th start date 2. If you're starting mid-week, report any earnings from your new job for that partial week 3. After that final certification, just stop certifying - no need to "close" anything officially 4. Your claim stays open for a year but goes inactive when you stop certifying The most important thing is DON'T keep certifying once you're working full-time - that's considered fraud and they will make you pay it back with penalties. Also, definitely take a screenshot of your final certification confirmation page showing you reported returning to work. The NY system can be glitchy and it's good to have proof you did everything correctly. Congrats on the new job! It feels great to be back to work after dealing with the unemployment system for months. You've got this! 👍

Just be careful because some severance agreements DO include salary continuation which would count as earned income. Read your severance paperwork carefully to make sure it's truly a lump sum dismissal payment.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago. Emma is right - lump sum severance is typically not considered earned income for unemployment purposes in NY. The key thing is that it's a one-time payment for job loss, not wages for work performed. I'd still recommend keeping all your severance paperwork just in case NYSDOL ever asks for documentation, but you shouldn't need to report it on your weekly claims. Just make sure you're still actively looking for work and reporting any actual earnings from new employment!