I had my hearing about 6 weeks ago and I'm so glad I found threads like this beforehand! One thing I didn't see mentioned yet - make sure you have your Social Security number and claim confirmation number written down somewhere easy to find. The judge asked for both at the very beginning to verify my identity and I almost panicked trying to remember my confirmation number. Also, if you filed your claim online, print out or screenshot the confirmation pages if you still have access to them. The judge asked me to confirm some details from my original application and it was really helpful to have that information right in front of me. My hearing was actually shorter than I expected - only about 25 minutes - but that was because my case was pretty straightforward (layoff due to company downsizing). The judge asked about my employment dates, my job duties, exactly how I was notified about the layoff, and whether I had received any severance pay. One last tip: if you're calling from a cell phone, make sure it's fully charged and maybe have a charger plugged in nearby just in case. Nothing would be worse than having your phone die in the middle of the hearing! You're going to do amazing on Tuesday - the fact that you've prepared so thoroughly already shows you're taking this seriously. Looking forward to hearing your good news!

I went through my unemployment hearing about 3 months ago and wanted to share some encouragement! I was absolutely terrified beforehand - couldn't sleep the night before and kept imagining worst-case scenarios. But honestly, it went so much smoother than I expected. A few things that really helped me: - I practiced my "elevator pitch" version of what happened - just 1-2 minutes explaining my situation clearly - Had my documents in a specific order: termination letter on top, then pay stubs, then any relevant emails - Wrote down 5-6 bullet points of the most important facts I wanted to make sure I mentioned The judge in my case was actually really understanding. They asked straightforward questions like when I started working, what my job duties were, and exactly what led to my separation. The whole thing took about 35 minutes and felt more like a professional conversation than an interrogation. My employer did participate but they were clearly unprepared and kept saying "I think" or "I believe" instead of giving concrete facts. Meanwhile, I had specific dates and documentation for everything I said. I got my decision 12 days later and it was favorable! The relief was incredible. You're going to do great on Tuesday - the fact that you're asking questions and preparing shows you're already ahead of many people who go into these hearings unprepared. Trust yourself and stick to the facts. We're all rooting for you!

Just to add - make sure you're ready to start doing job searches right away too because NYS Department of Labor requires you to be actively looking for work. You'll need to log your job search activities and be able to provide proof if they ask for it. Don't let that part catch you off guard like it did me!

@Jade Santiago - Yes, definitely file today! Don't wait any longer. Since you lost your job on December 15th and it's now late December, you've already missed out on potential benefits for those weeks. When you file your claim on the NY.gov website, your benefit year will start from the date you file, not from when you were laid off. So the sooner you get that application in, the better. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information from your warehouse job ready when you apply. The process can take a little while to complete online, so set aside some time to do it properly.

Just be careful about how you structure your LLC activities while on unemployment. If NYS Department of Labor thinks you're actively seeking work for your business instead of looking for a job, that could create problems. Keep good records of your job search activities and make sure you're meeting the work search requirements.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. Had an LLC for some side graphic design work but was primarily employed full-time. When I got laid off, I was honest about the LLC on my application and had no issues getting approved. The caseworker explained that since my LLC earnings were sporadic and minimal compared to my regular salary, it didn't affect my eligibility. Just make sure you keep detailed records of any LLC income and report it accurately on your weekly certifications. The NYS DOL website actually has a section about business ownership and unemployment that might be helpful to review before you apply.

yeah i had unemployment last year and got a small refund actually. but i think it was because i had other tax credits that helped offset things. really depends on your whole tax picture not just the unemployment part

Based on your numbers ($14,500 in benefits with $1,450 withheld), you'll likely owe additional federal taxes. The 10% withholding often isn't enough since unemployment benefits are taxed as ordinary income. For 2024, if you're single with $14,500 income, your effective tax rate would be around 12%, so you'd owe roughly $1,740 total federal tax. Since only $1,450 was withheld, you'd probably owe around $290 more. Don't forget about NY state taxes too - they don't automatically withhold state taxes from unemployment benefits, so you'll likely owe state taxes as well unless you made quarterly payments.

I'm 2 months into unemployment benefits after my marketing agency downsized, and this entire thread has been like therapy for me! I was literally just updating my resume this morning and staring at that gap, feeling so defeated about how to explain it. Everyone's advice about reframing this as "strategic career transition" instead of unemployment is revolutionary. I've been doing informational interviews, completed a Google Ads certification, and started a small consulting project to keep my skills fresh - but I was so focused on the stigma of being on benefits that I wasn't seeing these as accomplishments. The confidence aspect that everyone keeps mentioning is so important. I realize I've been approaching interviews with an apologetic tone instead of presenting myself as someone who's being thoughtful and selective about their next move. The NYS DOL requirements have actually made me more systematic about networking and industry research than I ever was while employed! I'm going to completely revamp my resume with the "Career Development & Market Research" approach and practice explaining this gap as intentional professional growth time. Thank you all for turning what felt like my biggest weakness into a potential strength!

This whole discussion has been such an eye-opener! I'm 6 months into unemployment benefits after my tech startup shut down, and I've been beating myself up about this gap constantly. Reading everyone's strategies has completely flipped my perspective. I love how we've all discovered that the NYS DOL weekly requirements actually create a structured, professional job search process that we can highlight as "systematic career planning methodology." I've been completing AWS certifications, attending virtual tech meetups, and even started contributing to open source projects to keep my coding skills sharp - but I was so hung up on the unemployment stigma that I couldn't see these as legitimate professional activities. The confidence shift everyone's talking about is huge - instead of feeling like I need to explain away this time, I can present it as a strategic investment in my technical skills and career direction. I'm going to adopt the "Independent Career Development & Strategic Opportunity Assessment" approach on my resume and practice explaining this as being selective about finding the right company culture and growth opportunity rather than just taking any available position. Thank you all for showing me that thoughtful career transitions are actually a sign of professionalism, not something to be ashamed of!