also if you have any kind of severance pay or vacation payout that might delay when you can start collecting. learned that the hard way

One thing I'd add is that if you're collecting any kind of pension or retirement benefits, that can also affect your unemployment eligibility or reduce your weekly benefit amount. NYS Department of Labor will offset your UI benefits if you're getting a pension from a base period employer. Also, if you're self-employed or doing gig work while collecting, you need to report ALL earnings - even small amounts can trigger overpayment issues if not reported properly. The key is being completely transparent about your work situation when you file.

The whole thing reminds me of when I was on unemployment back in 2019, except it was way easier then. Now with all the online stuff and new requirements it's like they made it deliberately complicated. I spent hours trying to figure out the work search logging system alone. But once you get the hang of it, it becomes more routine. Just wish they would make the process clearer from the start instead of making everyone figure it out through trial and error.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrations right now! Been waiting 4 weeks with my claim stuck in pending status and the phone system is absolutely useless. What's really getting to me is how unclear everything is - like I had no idea there were specific work search logging requirements beyond just applying to jobs. The whole system feels like it was designed to discourage people from actually getting benefits. Has anyone found a reliable way to get status updates without having to spend entire days on hold?

I've been following this thread as someone who went through address verification issues last year, and I wanted to add one more tip that saved me a lot of stress. If you're in a time crunch and worried about your benefits being delayed, you can actually update your mailing address online through NY.gov while you're waiting for the formal address change documentation to be processed. This way your correspondence (like determination letters) will still reach you at your new address even if the system hasn't fully processed your address change yet. Just log into your NY.gov account, go to "Profile Settings" and update your mailing address there. It won't lift the hold on your benefits, but at least you won't miss any important notices while waiting for the documentation review. This temporary workaround helped me avoid missing a critical appeal deadline when I was in a similar situation.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips! I'm currently dealing with a similar address update situation and was feeling completely overwhelmed trying to navigate the NYSDOL website. Reading through all these real-world solutions and workarounds has been incredibly helpful. It's clear that the official process is confusing and frustrating for everyone, but seeing how this community comes together to help each other figure out what actually works is really encouraging. I'm planning to try the fax route with the number provided, making sure to include "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" at the top and my claim number on every page. Will also look into that Claimyr service if I need to follow up. Thanks again everyone!

Quick question - are you talking about a phone interview or an in-person appointment? Because phone interviews for adjudication get scheduled automatically and you'll get a call, but if it's something else like a job search seminar those might be different.

I went through something similar a few months ago. While you're waiting for the appointment letter, make sure to keep certifying for benefits and document everything - save screenshots of any messages you see about the review, keep records of when you called, etc. Also check both your online account messages AND your physical mailbox daily. Sometimes the appointment notices come through regular mail even if everything else is electronic. The worst thing that happened to me was missing the appointment because I didn't realize it was scheduled, so stay vigilant about checking both!

I've been through the NY unemployment system twice (2023 and 2024) and learned the hard way about documentation. Here's my current system that's bulletproof: 1. **Weekly folder structure**: I create a new folder each week labeled "Week of [date]" with subfolders for applications, confirmations, and follow-ups. 2. **Real-time logging**: I fill out the WS5 form AS I apply, not at the end of the week. This prevents forgetting details. 3. **Activity diversification**: Monday = online applications, Wednesday = networking/LinkedIn outreach, Friday = skills development or job fair research. This ensures I hit different activity types. 4. **Screenshot everything**: Application confirmations, job posting pages, email receipts, even LinkedIn connection requests. If there's no confirmation page, I screenshot the "application submitted" message. 5. **Follow-up tracking**: I set calendar reminders to follow up on applications after 1 week, which counts as additional activity. The most important thing I learned: treat this like a part-time job. Spend 2-3 hours each day on legitimate job search activities and document EVERYTHING in real-time. It's way easier than trying to reconstruct weeks of activity later. Also, pro tip: the NY DOL considers informational interviews as networking activities. Reach out to people in your field for 15-minute coffee chats - it's great for job searching AND counts toward your requirements.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I just finished setting up my documentation system based on everyone's advice. I'm using the WS5 form as my primary tracker and created a Google Drive folder with weekly subfolders like Seraphina suggested. One thing I learned from calling the DOL (finally got through after 2 hours on hold): they said keeping both digital AND physical copies is ideal in case of technical issues during submission. They also confirmed that volunteer work related to your field can count as a networking activity if you're making professional connections. For anyone still worried about past weeks - the agent told me they understand people don't always know the requirements upfront. They look more favorably on claimants who show they're making genuine efforts to find work, even if early documentation is incomplete. The key is being honest and proactive. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the official resources are so hard to navigate!