Just wanted to add that while there's no waiting week, make sure you file your initial claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Even though you'll get paid retroactively for eligible weeks, you can only backdate your claim by one week from when you actually file. So if you wait too long to apply, you might lose out on benefits for those earlier weeks. Also, keep all your documentation handy - pay stubs, separation notice, etc. - in case they need to verify anything during processing.

One thing to keep in mind - even though NY eliminated the waiting week, you still need to serve a "waiting day" which is basically just the day you file your initial claim. So if you file on a Tuesday, that Tuesday counts as your waiting day but you can still get benefits starting that same week as long as you meet all the other eligibility requirements. Just make sure you understand the difference between a waiting week (which NY doesn't have) and the waiting day (which still exists). The key is to file your weekly certifications on time every single week - I can't stress this enough!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The key thing is to be completely transparent about your work start date on your final weekly certification. You'll file one last weekly claim where you report that you're starting work (include the exact date), and then you simply stop filing after that. NYS DOL will automatically close your claim after a period of inactivity. Don't worry about "canceling" anything - there's no formal cancellation process. Just make sure you don't continue to certify for weeks when you're working full-time, as that would create an overpayment issue. Good luck with the new job!

Congratulations on landing the new job! I just want to emphasize what others have said about being extra careful with that final weekly claim. When you report your start date, make sure it's the exact date - not approximate. I've seen people run into issues because they weren't precise with dates. Also, if your new job starts mid-week, you'll need to report any days you worked during that benefit week along with your earnings. NYS Department of Labor is very thorough about cross-checking employment records, so accuracy is key. Once you stop filing, you should receive a determination letter in a few weeks confirming your claim closure. Keep all your documentation from your UI claim period just in case!

I'm going through something very similar right now and it's so validating to see others have faced this too. One thing I learned from my lawyer consultation is that NYS Department of Labor considers it "constructive dismissal" when workplace conditions become so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to quit. The key phrase they look for is whether you had "no reasonable alternative" but to resign. Beyond the medical documentation everyone mentioned, also keep records of any company policies they might be violating - like if they have anti-harassment or mental health support policies they're not following. If your supervisor is creating the toxic environment, document specific dates, times, and witnesses if possible. Also check if your company has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - using it shows you tried to get help while staying employed, which can strengthen your case. The waiting period is brutal though, so definitely start gathering all your documentation now while you're still employed. And consider reaching out to legal aid organizations in NY - some offer free consultations for employment issues and can help you understand your rights before you make the decision to quit.

Marcus, I'm really sorry you're dealing with this situation - workplace stress can be absolutely devastating to mental health. I went through something similar about 6 months ago and want to share what I learned from the process. First, the good news: yes, you can potentially qualify for NYS unemployment if you quit due to mental health issues, but the documentation requirements are pretty strict. The key thing NYS Department of Labor looks for is whether you had "good cause" - meaning a reasonable person in your situation would have felt they had no choice but to quit. Here's what really helped my case: I started keeping a detailed daily journal of workplace incidents that triggered my anxiety (specific dates, what happened, who was involved). I also asked my therapist to write a detailed letter explaining how my work environment was specifically impacting my mental health recovery and why continuing in that role would be detrimental. The most important thing - and I can't stress this enough - is to try requesting accommodations through HR first, even if you think they'll say no. Document everything in writing (emails are best). When they denied my requests for a modified workload and schedule flexibility, it actually strengthened my unemployment case because it showed I'd exhausted all reasonable alternatives before quitting. The process took about 6 weeks for me, but I did get approved. The financial stress during that waiting period was brutal, so definitely have a backup plan if possible. Feel free to ask if you want more details about any part of the process!

I'm actually going through this exact situation right now! Filed my first unemployment claim in NY back in early 2023 when my marketing job was eliminated, and just had to file again last month after getting laid off from a different company. Can confirm that you can absolutely file multiple times - there's no lifetime limit or anything like that. The second time around was actually much smoother since I already knew what to expect. Just make sure you have all your recent employment details ready (especially from jobs since your last claim ended) and don't stress about having used benefits before. The system treats each claim period completely separately. I'd definitely recommend following the advice others have given about filing on Sunday and not waiting too long to submit your application. Hope this helps ease your worries - you're definitely not alone in this situation!

As someone who just went through filing a second unemployment claim in NY, I wanted to add my voice to this conversation! I was in almost exactly the same situation - filed my first claim in 2021 after a restaurant closure, then had to file again last year when my retail job ended due to store closure. I was so nervous about filing the second time because I thought maybe there was a rule against it, but it turned out to be totally fine. The thing that helped me the most was calling the NY Department of Labor directly to ask about my eligibility before filing. Yes, the wait times are brutal, but once I got through, the representative was super helpful and confirmed that as long as you've worked enough since your last claim period ended, you're eligible for a new claim. She also mentioned that many people file multiple claims throughout their careers - it's completely normal! One thing I wish I had known: keep really good records of all your jobs between claims. They'll want detailed information about your work history, and having everything organized beforehand makes the application process much smoother. Also, don't delay filing once you're eligible - I learned that lesson the hard way by waiting almost two weeks after my job ended, thinking I needed to have everything perfectly prepared first.

This is such a common problem with the NY system! I had the exact same issue last month - logged in fine, then got locked out with "incorrect password" errors even though nothing changed. What finally worked for me was using an incognito/private browser window. Something about their session management gets confused when you log out and back in quickly. Also, if you're still having trouble, try logging in during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) - the system seems more stable then. Hope you got your certification done on time!

Ugh, I've been dealing with this exact same issue for weeks now! The NY unemployment system is seriously broken. What's worked for me is actually logging in through a completely different device - like if you've been using your phone, try a computer instead, or vice versa. Also, I noticed that sometimes the system gets "stuck" on your old session info, so waiting at least 2-3 hours before trying again helps. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through these hoops just to access our own accounts! I've started keeping a backup browser ready just for unemployment stuff because this happens so frequently.