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I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just got terminated after 6 weeks during my probation for "not integrating well with existing workflows." I was honestly convinced that probation status would automatically disqualify me from unemployment benefits, but reading through all these success stories has been incredibly eye-opening. It's so reassuring to see that NYS DOL consistently focuses on the actual reason for termination rather than employment status. Everyone's experiences make it clear that performance/adaptation issues during probation are treated completely differently from misconduct. I was letting my anxiety about the probation thing paralyze me, but now I realize I need to stop overthinking this and just file my claim. Thank you Ruby for asking this question and thank you to everyone who shared their stories - this thread has given me the confidence to move forward with my application tomorrow!
Welcome to the community Ava! Your situation with "not integrating well with existing workflows" sounds so familiar - I went through something almost identical about 4 months ago. Got let go after 7 weeks during probation for "workflow integration challenges." Like you, I was completely paralyzed thinking probation meant automatic disqualification. But everyone in this thread is absolutely right - NYS DOL doesn't care about probation status at all! I filed my claim and got approved in just under 3 weeks with no issues whatsoever. The case worker was super clear that workflow/integration issues are performance-related, not misconduct. Don't let another day go by overthinking this - file that claim tomorrow and stop letting company policies intimidate you out of benefits you've rightfully earned. This community has been amazing for helping all of us understand our rights during these stressful probationary terminations!
I'm going through the exact same situation right now - just got let go after 8 weeks during my probation for "not meeting departmental integration standards." Reading through all these success stories has been such a relief! I was absolutely convinced that being terminated during probation would automatically disqualify me from unemployment benefits, but it's clear from everyone's experiences that NYS DOL only cares about misconduct vs. performance issues, not probation status. Your situation sounds identical to mine Ruby - performance-related termination rather than any wrongdoing. I've been hesitating to file for the past week because I was scared of getting denied, but after seeing how many people got approved despite probationary terminations, I'm definitely going to submit my claim tomorrow morning. This thread has been incredibly valuable for understanding that we shouldn't let company probation policies intimidate us out of benefits we've earned. Thank you for asking this question - it's helping so many of us in similar situations!
Just wanted to add from my experience - make sure you keep documentation of your job offer and start date too! I saved the email with my offer letter and start date, which came in handy later when I had to verify some details with NYS DOL. Also, don't worry if your benefits don't stop immediately online - sometimes there's a small processing delay, but as long as you reported it accurately on your weekly claim, you're covered. The most important thing is that honest reporting you're already planning to do. Congrats on the new job and good luck with your first week!
That's such great advice about keeping documentation! I hadn't thought about saving the job offer email but that makes total sense for verification purposes. It's also really helpful to know that there might be a small processing delay with the benefits stopping online - I would have probably panicked if I saw that happening. Having all these practical tips from people who have actually been through this process is invaluable. I feel so much more prepared now to handle everything correctly. Thank you for the congratulations and the encouragement!
As someone who just went through this transition myself a couple months ago, I can tell you that you're absolutely handling this the right way! The weekly certification process is really straightforward - when you file this week, just be completely honest about your start date when they ask about returning to work. The system will take care of the rest automatically. I was super nervous about creating an overpayment too, but reporting it promptly through your regular weekly claim is exactly what prevents those issues. The NYS DOL actually makes this pretty seamless when you follow the proper reporting process. Don't stress too much about it - you're being responsible by asking these questions now rather than figuring it out later. Congratulations on landing the job!
One important thing - if you receive any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start. Severance is considered wages in NY so it could delay your eligibility. Make sure to report any severance when you file your initial claim so there are no issues later.
I am getting two weeks severance pay. Does that mean I have to wait two weeks before I can even file, or just that I won't get benefits for those two weeks?
I went through this exact situation last year. File your claim the Monday after your last day of work - don't wait any longer than that! The NYS DOL website lets you file 24/7 online which is way easier than calling. You'll need your employer's full business name and address, your employment dates, and your Social Security number. The one-week waiting period means you won't get paid for your first week of benefits, but you still need to certify for it. Also keep records of everything - save confirmation numbers and print out your claim summary. Good luck with everything!
My brother got fired for attendance issues last year and still got unemployment after appealing. The key is showing it wasn't intentional misconduct. Good luck with your claim!
I work as an HR representative and deal with unemployment claims regularly. While you can file immediately, being terminated for tardiness after multiple warnings is typically considered misconduct in NY. However, each case is reviewed individually during adjudication. The Department of Labor will contact your employer to verify the circumstances. If you had legitimate reasons for some of the tardiness (like the car trouble you mentioned), make sure to document and provide evidence. Even if initially denied, you have the right to appeal and present your case at a hearing. File your claim right away regardless - the worst they can do is deny it, but you might be surprised by the outcome.
Ava Williams
I was in the exact same situation last year after getting laid off from my data entry job. Applied for Medicaid while collecting unemployment and got approved within 3 weeks. The key thing that helped me was gathering all my documentation beforehand - unemployment benefit determination letter, recent payment history from my.ny.gov, and bank statements showing my benefit deposits. Also want to mention that if you have any ongoing prescriptions or medical appointments coming up, mention the urgency when you apply - they can sometimes expedite cases for people with immediate medical needs. The $420 weekly you're getting should definitely qualify you, so don't stress too much about the income part.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about gathering all the documentation beforehand. Quick question - when you mention the unemployment benefit determination letter, is that the same as the initial eligibility notice they sent when I first got approved for benefits? I want to make sure I'm bringing the right paperwork when I apply.
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Zainab Ibrahim
Yes, that's exactly right! The unemployment benefit determination letter is the same as your initial eligibility notice that shows you were approved for benefits and lists your weekly benefit amount. That document is perfect for the Medicaid application because it officially shows your UI income. You can also print out your recent payment history from the Department of Labor website if you want extra documentation, but the determination letter should be sufficient. Make sure it's the most recent one if you've had any changes to your benefit amount. Good luck with your application!
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Isaac Wright
•Perfect, thank you! I actually just logged into my.ny.gov account and was able to download both my determination letter and payment history easily. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - it's making me feel much more confident about applying. One last thing I'm wondering about - do they usually want to see proof of the job loss too, like a termination letter from my employer, or is the unemployment documentation sufficient to show why I need coverage?
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