Yes, definitely mention that you're actively looking for other work! That's actually a requirement for unemployment benefits - you need to demonstrate that you're able, available, and actively seeking employment. The fact that you're job searching shows NYS Department of Labor that you're not just sitting around waiting for your old position to come back, which strengthens your case. Keep records of your job search activities too (applications submitted, interviews attended, etc.) since they may ask for proof during your weekly certifications. Your situation with the indefinite budget-related leave and active job search sounds like it should qualify, but getting that documented properly in your initial filing is crucial.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with NYS DOL. My advice: file immediately and be completely transparent about your circumstances. When I filed, I made sure to emphasize three key points: 1) The leave is indefinite with no concrete return date, 2) It's budget-related, not performance-related, and 3) I'm actively available for other employment. The initial determination took about 2-3 weeks, but they approved my claim. The biggest mistake people make is waiting too long to file - you can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you didn't claim. Even if there's uncertainty about eligibility, it's better to file and let them make the determination rather than lose out on potential benefits while you're financially struggling. Document everything and be prepared to explain your situation clearly if they call for additional information.

I'm dealing with something really similar right now - left my job in February for what I thought was a better opportunity, then got let go in July when they had "restructuring." Just got my denial letter last week and I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the paperwork they want me to fill out. Reading through everyone's responses here is giving me hope though! It sounds like the key is really emphasizing that most recent job separation. I'm going to focus on that layoff and make sure I have all my documentation ready. Has anyone had success with the online appeal system, or is it better to do everything by phone/mail? The DOL website is kind of confusing about which method is fastest. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been a lifesaver during this stressful time!

I'm in almost the exact same boat! Quit my job in December for what seemed like an amazing opportunity, then got laid off in May when the company had "financial difficulties." Just got my denial letter yesterday and I'm honestly freaking out a bit. Reading through all these responses is making me feel so much better though. It sounds like focusing on the layoff from the most recent job is key, and that appeals actually work! Quick question for those who've been through this - when you're filling out the paperwork, do you mention the previous job you quit at all, or just focus entirely on the most recent employment? I don't want to accidentally hurt my case by bringing up the voluntary quit again. Also seeing a lot of mentions about Claimyr here - has anyone else used it successfully? The $20 seems worth it if it actually gets me through to a human being instead of sitting on hold for hours. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - it's really helping me feel less alone in this process! 🙏

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefits might be subject to federal income tax, so that $504/week could be even less take-home depending on your tax situation. You can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly certifications. Also, since you're in finance, you might want to look into whether your company offers any outplacement services - many larger firms do, and that can help with your job search requirements while you're collecting benefits.

Another thing to consider is timing if you do get laid off in January - that's actually a good time to file because your benefit year will run through the end of December, so you'll have the full 26 weeks available if needed. Also, start documenting everything now about your work history and wages. NYS Department of Labor sometimes has issues with their wage records, especially for high earners, so having your own pay stubs and tax documents ready can speed up the process. And don't forget - even though $504 is way less than your current income, it's still something, and every week you delay filing after becoming unemployed is money left on the table since you can't backdate claims.

As someone who's new to unemployment benefits myself, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! The transparency theme that keeps coming up is so important. I've been worried about similar things, especially since the whole process feels overwhelming when you're going through it for the first time. It's reassuring to know that the DOL's systems are designed to catch intentional fraud rather than penalize people who are making honest efforts to comply. I think the key takeaway is that if you're documenting everything and reporting accurately on your weekly certifications, the monitoring systems actually work to protect you rather than catch you in some kind of trap. Thanks for all the helpful insights!

I'm going through the exact same worries right now! Been on unemployment for about 6 weeks and constantly second-guessing myself even though I know I'm reporting everything correctly. Reading through everyone's experiences here is so helpful - it sounds like the key really is just staying transparent and documenting everything. I've started keeping screenshots of my weekly certifications just in case I ever need to reference what I reported. It's good to know that their monitoring systems are sophisticated enough to distinguish between people trying to commit fraud and people who are genuinely following the rules. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and advice!

I completely understand the panic you're experiencing right now - I went through an almost identical situation with NYS DOL about 10 months ago involving a $2,500 overpayment from confused reporting while working variable retail hours. The fear of criminal charges was absolutely debilitating, but I want to give you some concrete reassurance: you are not going to jail over this. What I learned through the process is that criminal prosecution requires proving deliberate intent to defraud under NY Penal Law, which is an extremely high legal standard that applies to systematic schemes involving falsified documents or identity theft - not honest confusion about reporting requirements. Your $2,800 overpayment from part-time work reporting mistakes falls squarely into the civil administrative category that NYS DOL handles routinely. The key is responding to their notice promptly and gathering all your documentation from that period - pay stubs, work schedules, any communication about your hours. I successfully appealed mine by clearly explaining where the reporting instructions were confusing and showing my good faith efforts to comply. The hearing officer reduced my overpayment by about 55% after determining it was an honest error. Focus your energy on building your appeal case rather than worrying about criminal consequences that simply won't happen in your situation. You're going to get through this.

I went through this exact situation with NYS DOL about 15 months ago - $2,650 overpayment from reporting confusion during a period when I was working irregular shifts at two different retail locations. The terror about potential criminal charges was consuming every aspect of my life, but I want to share what I learned that completely changed my perspective: criminal prosecution for unemployment fraud in NY targets deliberate, large-scale schemes involving identity theft or systematic deception over extended periods - not workers who made honest mistakes with confusing reporting requirements. What really helped me was understanding that NYS DOL processes thousands of these overpayment cases annually and they have extensive experience distinguishing between genuine confusion and intentional fraud. I gathered all my documentation from that period (pay stubs, work schedules, even photos of confusing scheduler apps my employers used) and submitted a comprehensive appeal explaining exactly where the reporting process was unclear to me. The hearing officer was surprisingly understanding and could clearly see I was a legitimate worker who got confused by overlapping work schedules and unclear reporting instructions. They reduced my overpayment to about $850 and offered a payment plan that worked with my budget. The most important thing I learned is that the anxiety and fear are by far the worst parts of this process - once you start taking concrete steps to address it through proper channels, everything becomes much more manageable. Don't let the intimidating language in their notices paralyze you from taking action. Focus on your documentation, submit your appeal before the deadline, and trust that the system can tell the difference between honest mistakes and intentional fraud. You're going to be okay.