I just wanted to add my support to all the excellent advice you've received here. As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by how knowledgeable and helpful everyone has been with your situation. The consensus seems clear - file your unemployment claim immediately and don't let the drug test failure discourage you from seeking benefits you may be entitled to. What really stands out to me is that multiple people have shared actual success stories of winning appeals in similar situations, which shows this isn't hopeless at all. Your chronic pain condition is a crucial detail that differentiates your case from recreational drug use. I'd recommend creating a timeline of events and gathering all your documentation now while everything is fresh - performance reviews, medical records, anything that shows you were managing your condition responsibly while being a reliable employee. The NYS Department of Labor has to prove willful misconduct, not just policy violation, and having a legitimate medical reason for marijuana use could be a game-changer in your case. Even if you face an initial denial, the appeals process gives you a real opportunity to present your full story to a hearing officer who can consider all the context. You've got nothing to lose by filing and potentially everything to gain - don't let fear of rejection stop you from pursuing benefits that could help you get back on your feet!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out because your situation hits close to home - I have a family member who went through something very similar with the NYS Department of Labor. What I learned from their experience is that the system really does evaluate each case individually, and having a medical reason for marijuana use can make a huge difference in the outcome. Reading through all the responses here, I'm struck by how many people have successfully appealed initial denials in drug test cases. The key insight that keeps coming up is that the Department of Labor has to prove "willful misconduct" - not just that you violated company policy, but that you did so in a way that was intentionally harmful to your work performance. Your chronic pain management situation creates important context that distinguishes your case from recreational use. My advice echoes what others have said: file your claim immediately through ny.gov, be completely honest about everything (the drug test AND your medical reasons), and start gathering documentation now - performance reviews, medical records about your chronic pain, attendance records, anything showing you were a reliable employee. Don't be discouraged if you get an initial denial - that's often just the first step, and the appeals process is where you can present your full story. You deserve to have your case evaluated fairly, and from everything shared here, it sounds like you have stronger grounds than you might think!

I feel your pain, OP. Been there, done that. It's like trying to win the lottery just to talk to a human being. Have you tried calling right when they open? Sometimes that works for me.

I've been in the exact same situation and it's beyond frustrating! What finally worked for me was a combination of calling right at 8 AM sharp and using the auto-redial feature on my phone. I also found that Tuesday through Thursday tend to be slightly less busy than Mondays and Fridays. One thing that helped was having someone else call from a different phone at the same time - doubled my chances of getting through. Also, don't hang up if you get put on hold for a long time, even if it's been over an hour. I waited 2.5 hours once but finally got through. The key is persistence and not giving up. You got this!

Have you considered asking your employer about a layoff instead? Some companies will work with employees who are relocating, especially if they value you as an employee. It's worth having that conversation before you just quit outright.

I actually went through this exact situation about a year ago when my spouse got transferred to California. NYS Department of Labor did initially deny my claim, but I found out there's a specific provision for "compelling family circumstances" that can sometimes apply to spousal job relocations. The key is documenting that the move was necessary (not just voluntary) and that you made reasonable efforts to continue employment. I had to appeal the initial decision and provide documentation showing my husband's job offer, proof that my company had no remote work options, and evidence that I tried to find comparable employment in NY before the move. It took about 3 months to get approved, but I did eventually receive benefits. The process was definitely stressful, but it might be worth exploring if you can show the move is truly necessary rather than just a preference.

Don't let the complexity discourage you from applying! I was in a similar situation where I had worked at two different places within the year and wasn't sure if it would count. The online application at my.ny.gov actually walks you through entering all your employment history from the past 18 months, and their system automatically calculates whether you meet the requirements. You'll need your employer information, dates worked, and gross wages for each job. Since you have 8 months total of work history this year, you're likely in good shape as long as your combined earnings hit those thresholds that Melina mentioned.

Pedro, based on what you've described, you should definitely apply! With 6 months of work earlier this year plus your recent 2 months, you likely have enough work history to qualify. The NYS Department of Labor will look at your entire base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) when determining eligibility. Since you were laid off due to company downsizing and didn't quit voluntarily, you should meet the separation requirements too. Make sure you have all your employment information handy - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and your gross wages from both jobs. The online application will guide you through everything and automatically calculate if you meet the monetary requirements.

I've been dealing with similar payment status confusion on my.ny.gov for months now! One thing that really helped me was setting up text notifications through the DOL system - you can enable them in your account settings under "Communication Preferences." They'll send you updates when your claim is processed or if there are any issues. It's not perfect but at least you get notified instead of constantly checking the website. Also, I learned that payments typically get released between 2-4 AM on Wednesday mornings, so if you don't see it by Thursday, that's when you know something is definitely wrong and need to call.

I've been through this exact same frustration with the NYS DOL system! One thing that really helped me was downloading the mobile app instead of using the website - it seems to update more consistently and shows payment status more accurately. Also, if you're having trouble with the job search verification that @Tami Morgan mentioned, make sure you're submitting it in the exact format they want. I had to resubmit mine because I used bullet points instead of numbered entries. The whole system is definitely clunky but once you figure out these little quirks it gets easier to navigate.