@Cole Roush you re'definitely not alone in this! 😭 I m'actually new to this community but have been lurking and reading everyone s'experiences - it s'crazy how we re'all dealing with the exact same broken system. Filed my claim back in September and also stuck at that dreaded $0.00 with the same continuing "to work on your application message." The advice from @Mila Walker about calling for a claims specialist is brilliant - never would have thought to ask for someone specific instead of just taking whoever picks up. Also that tip about documents disappearing into their system makes so much sense! I ve probably'uploaded my termination letter like 4 times wondering why they keep saying they don t have'it. Definitely gonna try the early morning calling strategy too. This thread is giving me hope that there s actually'a way through this nightmare and that the back pay will eventually come. Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - makes me feel less crazy for dealing with this mess! 🙏

@Fatima Al-Hashimi same exact situation here! 😭 filed in December and been at $0 ever since. this thread is literally saving my sanity - was starting to think maybe i did something wrong with my application but seeing everyone else dealing with the same broken system is oddly comforting. definitely gonna try that claims specialist trick tomorrow morning! @Mila Walker s success'story gives me so much hope that this nightmare will eventually end. thanks for sharing your experience - feels good knowing we re all'fighting through this together! 🙏💪

@Jessica Nolan This is incredibly helpful information, thank you for sharing what you learned from your call! The tip about needing synchronous components for online programs is something I hadn t'seen mentioned anywhere else - that could have been a costly mistake if I d'enrolled in a purely self-paced program. I love that you included Bureau of Labor Statistics data in your justification letter - that s'such a smart way to show you ve'done your homework on occupational demand. I m'definitely going to research similar data for my field before submitting my application. The faster processing time 2 (weeks vs 3-4 is) really encouraging news for those of us cutting it close on timing. It sounds like they might have streamlined their review process or hired additional staff to handle applications more quickly. Your experience with getting through immediately at 8am using the direct line gives me a lot of confidence for when I call. It s'amazing how much smoother this process seems when you have the right phone number and timing strategy. Thanks for taking the time to report back with what you learned - it s'exactly this kind of real-world intel that makes this thread so valuable for everyone going through this stressful situation!

@Jessica Nolan This is such valuable intel, thank you for reporting back! The synchronous component requirement is crucial information that could save people from choosing the wrong program. I was actually looking at a completely self-paced online certification and would have never known that might disqualify it. Your approach of including Bureau of Labor Statistics data is brilliant - I m'definitely going to research employment projections and salary data for my field before writing my justification letter. It shows you re'making an informed decision rather than just picking a random program. The 2-week processing time is really encouraging! I was stressing about my tight timeline but that gives me hope that things might move faster than expected. And confirming that the direct line works so well at 8am is perfect - I ll'be calling tomorrow morning with much more confidence now. Really appreciate you taking the time to share these specific details from your conversation. This is exactly the kind of insider information that makes all the difference in navigating this process successfully!

@Mary Bates This is incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the ETPL directory - I ve'been randomly searching training programs without knowing which ones were pre-approved. That could have saved me so much time and prevented me from accidentally choosing a non-qualifying program. The library career counseling tip is amazing too. I m'definitely going to check with my local branch this week. Having professional help with the paperwork for free sounds like a huge advantage, especially since this process seems so detail-oriented. Your healthcare administration program sounds like a really solid choice. With everything I ve'read in this thread about approval rates and job market demand, healthcare-related training seems like one of the safest bets for getting approved quickly. I m'also at week 24 so we re'in a similar timeline! It s'encouraging to see someone else being proactive about starting this process early rather than waiting until the last minute. Based on all the advice here, it sounds like we re'both in good shape timing-wise. Thanks for adding these practical resources - between your tips and everything else shared in this thread, I feel like I have a complete roadmap for navigating the 599 program successfully!

@Mary Bates These resources are incredible - thank you for sharing! I had no clue about the ETPL directory and have been wasting time researching random programs. The library career counseling tip is genius too - I never would have thought to check there for free help with applications. I m'also in week 24 and looking at healthcare programs after reading about their high approval rates. Your healthcare administration choice sounds really smart - combines business skills with job security. Quick question - when you searched for the ETPL on the NYSDOL site, did you find it easily or did you have to dig around? I want to make sure I m'looking in the right place when I search for it. Thanks for being so generous with these practical tips. This thread has become the ultimate guide for navigating the 599 program!

@Miles, I just went through the workforce development program application process last month! The good news is that some programs do offer income support - I found one through WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) that provides a training allowance while you're learning new skills. You have to go through an assessment at your local Career Center to see what you qualify for, but it's definitely worth it. The application process took about 2 weeks for me, so start now! Also, I second starting the SNAP application immediately - mine took almost a month to get approved and I wish I'd started sooner. The uncertainty is terrifying but there are more options than I initially thought, you just have to dig for them.

@Ravi, I totally understand the panic attacks - I went through the same thing when my benefits were about to end. For WIOA programs, the income requirements vary by area but they generally look at your household income over the past 6 months, not just your current UI benefits. Since you've been unemployed, you'll likely qualify even if your UI payments seem "high" - they understand that's temporary income. When you go to the Career Center, they'll do a full eligibility assessment and can tell you exactly what you qualify for. Also, don't forget to ask about emergency assistance programs while you're there - some counties have one-time rental/utility help that can bridge the gap. You've got 10 days which is actually better than waiting until the last minute like I did. The system is definitely designed poorly, but you're taking all the right steps!

This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! I'm actually in a very similar boat - just got let go after about 11 weeks at my job. The tip about having all the employment info ready beforehand is super helpful since I know those online forms can be tedious. Quick question though - when you mention that employers commonly contest claims, do you know roughly how long that process takes to resolve? I'm trying to figure out my timeline for when I might actually see benefits if I get approved.

@Eva St. Cyr From what I ve experienced'and heard from others, if your employer contests the claim, it usually adds about 2-4 weeks to the process. They ll schedule'a phone hearing where both you and your employer can present your side of the story to an administrative law judge. The whole thing is pretty straightforward - they ll ask'you about what happened and why you were terminated. Just stick to the facts and be honest. Even if it gets contested, don t let'that discourage you from filing. Many people still get approved even after their employer fights it, especially in cases like yours where it s just'performance-related rather than misconduct. The key is getting that initial claim filed as soon as possible since the clock doesn t start'ticking until you actually apply.

This is really valuable insight from someone in HR! It's so reassuring to hear that even 30-day terminations can result in successful unemployment claims. I was definitely overthinking this whole situation and worried that my short tenure would automatically disqualify me. Your advice about just answering honestly with exactly what the employer said - "performance issues" - without elaborating makes a lot of sense. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow morning and stop second-guessing myself. Thanks for taking the time to share your professional perspective!

@CosmicCruiser Great questions! The 25% threshold is calculated based on your gross weekly benefit amount (before taxes), so in your example it would be 25% of $350 = $87.50. This means you could earn up to $87.50 from freelance work without any reduction in benefits. Regarding seasonal work, that's actually a smart concern to have! Holiday projects could definitely create a spike in your quarterly earnings even if you're compliant week-to-week. What I've seen other freelancers do is pace their higher-paying projects throughout the quarter rather than clustering them all in December. You might consider taking on some of those holiday projects but spreading the work (and payment) across November, December, and January if possible. Another strategy is to be more selective about which holiday projects you accept - maybe take fewer but higher-quality clients rather than trying to maximize volume. The key is thinking strategically about your quarterly total while staying under the weekly limits. Definitely keep detailed records of everything, especially during busy seasonal periods when it's easy to lose track of hours and earnings!

@CosmicCruiser I'm in a similar situation as a freelance web designer who just started unemployment! Regarding your seasonal work question, I'd suggest creating a monthly projection of your expected freelance income to help avoid any quarterly surprises. For holiday projects, you might also consider negotiating payment schedules that spread across multiple months - like 50% in December and 50% in January - which could help smooth out your quarterly earnings. I've been tracking everything in a simple Google Sheet with tabs for weekly reporting, quarterly totals, and project pipeline so I can see potential issues coming. Also, don't forget that if you do have a high-earning week that puts you over the threshold, it doesn't disqualify you permanently - you just won't get benefits for that specific week, but you can resume the following week if your income drops back down.

@Keisha Jackson Great questions! Regarding hours tracking, you should definitely count client consultations and proposal writing as work hours - any time you spend on business activities related to your freelance work counts toward your weekly hour total. This includes initial calls, writing proposals, project planning, and even administrative tasks like invoicing. It s'all part of running your freelance business. As for payment methods, YES you absolutely must report all income regardless of how you re'paid - whether it s'check, PayPal, Venmo, cash, or even bartering. The payment method doesn t'change your reporting obligation to NYS Department of Labor. In fact, I d'be very cautious about clients who suggest using Friends "& Family payments" to avoid taxes - this is tax evasion and could get both you and the client in trouble with the IRS. It also makes your record-keeping more complicated if you need to provide documentation to unemployment office. I always insist on proper business payments PayPal (Goods & Services, business checks, etc. because) it creates a clear paper trail and shows the work is legitimate freelance business activity. Better to pay the small PayPal fees and stay completely above board!