Just went through this same situation about 3 weeks ago! The key thing is to file your new claim as soon as your benefit year ends - don't wait. I made the mistake of waiting a few days thinking I needed some kind of official notice, but you can file immediately. The whole process took me about 30 minutes online. One tip: have your bank account info ready because they'll ask if you want direct deposit set up again. Also, if you've been keeping track of your job search activities, make sure you have those records handy because they might ask about what you've been doing to look for work. The waiting period for the new claim was only about a week for me, much faster than my original claim last year.

I just went through the refiling process last month and wanted to add a few things that helped me. First, make sure you file your new claim during business hours if possible - I tried filing late at night and kept getting system timeouts. Second, when they ask about your reason for unemployment, be specific about your job search efforts since your benefit year ended. They want to see you've been actively looking. Also, don't panic if your new weekly benefit amount is different from your old claim - they recalculate everything based on your most recent base period wages. The whole thing felt overwhelming at first but it's really just like filing your very first claim all over again. Good luck!

The base period is actually really important to understand - it's the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in 2025, they'd look at your earnings from early 2024 through late 2024, not just recent weeks. This means your full-time job earnings will definitely be considered if they fall within that timeframe. I'd recommend calling them directly or using their online calculator with your actual quarterly earnings to get the most accurate estimate.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - currently making around $320/week but had a much better paying job earlier last year. One thing I learned when I applied was to make sure you have your Social Security earnings statement handy too, since sometimes employers don't report wages correctly to the state. You can check your earnings history on the NYS Department of Labor website once you create an account, and it should show all your covered wages by quarter. If something looks wrong, you can dispute it, but it takes time to resolve. Also, don't forget that if you're eligible, you might also qualify for the federal programs that sometimes extend benefits during economic downturns.

I'm new to this community but I've been lurking and reading everyone's advice here - it's been incredibly helpful! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my employer claimed I was a "no-show" when I was actually terminated, so I really feel for what you're going through Kevin. What strikes me most about your case is how blatantly contradictory your employer's statements are. "Restructuring" is literally the textbook definition of an employer-initiated termination, yet they're trying to claim you quit voluntarily? That's not just inconsistent, it's almost insulting to everyone's intelligence. From reading all the great advice here, it sounds like you're building a really solid case. The timeline document idea is brilliant, and having those coworkers who were also let go around the same time could be huge. If this was truly "restructuring" affecting multiple employees, that completely demolishes any voluntary quit narrative. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your company had any kind of employee newsletter, internal communications, or even posts on their website/social media around that time mentioning restructuring, budget cuts, or organizational changes, those could be valuable supporting evidence too. Sometimes companies announce these things publicly without realizing how it might contradict their unemployment claims later. You've got this! The fact that you're preparing so thoroughly and have such clear contradictory statements from your employer puts you in a really strong position. Can't wait to hear your success story after the hearing!

I've been following this thread closely and wanted to add something that might be really helpful for your case. Since your employer specifically used the term "restructuring" when they terminated you, you should also look into whether they filed any WARN Act notices or made any filings with the state regarding mass layoffs or plant closures around that time. Companies are required to report certain types of layoffs to state agencies, and if they filed anything indicating restructuring or downsizing while simultaneously telling unemployment you quit voluntarily, that's documented proof of their dishonesty that goes beyond just your word against theirs. You can usually request these records from the NY Department of Labor's rapid response team or check if any WARN notices were posted publicly. Even if your company is too small for WARN requirements, they might have filed voluntary notices or communicated with local workforce development offices about the layoffs. This kind of official documentation from the employer themselves saying "we laid people off due to restructuring" would be absolutely damning evidence against their voluntary quit claim. Worth checking into before your hearing!

I had the exact same problem a few months ago! What worked for me was going through the my.ny.gov portal and using the "Account Recovery" option instead of just the PIN reset. It walks you through verifying your identity with multiple pieces of information (SSN, DOB, address, etc.) and then lets you create a completely new PIN. It took about 10-15 minutes but was way better than trying to get through on the phone. Just make sure you have all your personal info handy when you start the process.

I went through this exact same situation a couple weeks ago! One thing that helped me was making sure I was using the right browser - some people have issues with the my.ny.gov site on certain browsers. I had to switch from Chrome to Firefox to get the reset process to work properly. Also, if you're still getting stuck on security questions, try thinking about what answers you might have used back in October when you first set up the account - sometimes we use slightly different versions of the same answer (like "Main St" vs "Main Street"). Clear your browser cache before trying again too, that seemed to help with some of the technical glitches I was having.

One thing I learned from my own experience is that you should also check if your employer is offering any other benefits during the severance period, like continued health insurance coverage. Sometimes companies will maintain your benefits during severance which can affect how you report things to NYSDOL. Also, keep detailed records of all your severance payments and dates - if there are any issues with your claim later, having that documentation will save you a lot of headaches. The key is being completely transparent about everything when you file!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. I was laid off from a tech company after 4 years and received 10 weeks of severance. The waiting period was definitely stressful, but everything worked out exactly as described here. A few things I learned that might help: 1. File your initial claim online the day after your last day of work - don't wait until severance ends. This gets your claim in the system and they'll calculate your waiting period. 2. Keep checking your online account during the severance period. NYSDOL will sometimes request additional documents or clarification, and responding quickly helps avoid delays once you become eligible. 3. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your regular wages from the base period, not the severance. So if you were making good money before the layoff, your benefits should reflect that. 4. Start your job search during the severance period if possible. You'll need to be actively seeking work once benefits kick in, and having a head start really helps. The system actually works pretty well once you understand it. Hang in there - those 8 weeks will go by faster than you think!