I'm 69 and was in this exact situation two years ago when my part-time retail job ended. You can definitely collect both - I received unemployment benefits for 6 months while continuing to get my full social security. The NYS Department of Labor staff I spoke with confirmed there's no federal or state law preventing this combination. Just make sure you're completely honest on your weekly certifications about your social security income and keep detailed records of your job search activities. One tip: when you're doing your required 3 weekly job searches, don't limit yourself to just younger-worker jobs - there are employers specifically looking for experienced workers. I ended up finding a new part-time position through indeed.com that valued my experience. The whole process was much smoother than I expected once I got past the initial anxiety about applying.

I'm 65 and currently collecting social security, and I was just laid off from my part-time administrative assistant position last week. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea you could collect both benefits simultaneously! I was actually afraid to apply for unemployment because I thought it might somehow affect my social security payments. It's reassuring to hear from so many people who have successfully navigated this situation. I'm planning to file my claim online this week since it sounds like that's much more reliable than trying to call. One question though - for the work search requirements, are there any age-friendly job search resources that people have found particularly helpful? I want to make sure I'm meeting the 3 weekly activities requirement effectively.

you might be able to file anyway and see what happens? sometimes they approve things that seem like they shouldn't qualify. worth a shot right?

Have you considered asking your current employer if they'd be willing to let you use any accrued vacation or personal time during your notice period to extend your employment a bit longer? Or maybe see if they have any project work you could do as a contractor during the gap? Some employers are pretty flexible when they know you're leaving on good terms and not going to a competitor. It might help bridge at least part of that 3-week period without having to deal with the unemployment system at all.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been waiting 2 months for my adjudication to clear and they keep saying someone will call me back. Meanwhile I can't pay my rent because my claim is stuck in limbo. They need to hire more people instead of making us wait forever.

I'm in a similar situation - been waiting 10 days for my callback. From what I've experienced, they also sometimes call from numbers that show up as "Unknown" or "Private Number" so I've been answering those too just in case. You can also try calling their main line at 888-209-8124 early in the morning (like right at 8am when they open) to see if you can get through to someone directly instead of waiting for the callback.

Thank you everyone for all the info! I'm going to file a new claim during my last week and hope for the best. I'll make sure to gather all my gig work documentation just in case they need proof of some employment. This is all so stressful!

Just wanted to add that if you do get denied for a new claim, don't give up! You can appeal the decision and also look into other assistance programs while you're waiting. In NYC there's emergency rental assistance, SNAP benefits, and some local food banks that can help bridge the gap. Also check if your county has any emergency cash assistance programs - some do offer short-term help for people transitioning between benefit periods. The whole system is really complicated but there are other safety nets out there if you know where to look.

hang in there OP. i was in your EXACT situation last year. took 13 weeks (!!!) but i eventually got every penny. the system is awful but don't give up

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare. The stress of waiting months without any income while bills pile up is absolutely crushing. I've been reading through all these responses and it seems like the key is getting to an actual human who can look at your specific case. The automated system and general reps just give you the runaround. Have you tried that specific phone number sequence that @Yara Elias shared? Also, the suggestion about contacting your state senator (not just representative) seems to have worked for multiple people here. Document everything like @Miguel Castro suggested - dates, times, names, what they told you. That paper trail becomes crucial if you need to escalate further. Don't lose hope - I know it feels impossible right now but people ARE getting through this broken system and getting their back pay. You've already made it this far, you can push through a little longer. 💪