The key thing to remember is that PFL and unemployment serve different purposes under NYS Department of Labor rules. PFL is administered through your employer's insurance carrier, while unemployment is directly through NYS Department of Labor. Make sure you understand which benefit better fits your current needs before making the switch.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now. From what I've learned, you definitely need to be strategic about timing. Since you're already on unemployment, you might want to calculate whether PFL would provide better financial support for your family caregiving period. PFL typically pays about 67% of your average weekly wage (up to a cap), while unemployment varies. Also consider that PFL has a maximum duration of 12 weeks per benefit year, so you'll want to make sure that timeframe aligns with your mom's care needs. It's worth calling both programs to get exact figures for your situation before making the switch.

adjudication sucks but mine was only like 2 weeks. depends what the issue is i guess??

I went through adjudication last fall and it took about 3.5 weeks for my case. The hardest part is definitely the uncertainty and not knowing when it will end. A few tips that helped me: 1) Keep detailed records of all your job search activities since you'll need to show you're actively looking for work, 2) Check your my.ny.gov account daily for any requests for additional information - sometimes they ask for documents and if you miss it, it can delay things even more, 3) Consider reaching out to local food banks or emergency assistance programs to help bridge the gap while you wait. The back pay really does come through if you're approved, so hang in there. I know it's scary when rent is due but you're doing everything right by continuing to file weekly.

My two cents as someone who's been through the seasonal work unemployment cycle like 5 times now: the key is consistency in your answers. Pick 'lack of work' and stick with it. The system flags inconsistencies more than anything else. Also, expect at least one payment to be delayed while they review - it's annoying but normal.

I went through this exact same situation with my seasonal retail job last year! The "break in claim" message is totally normal when you go from reporting hours to zero hours - it's just the system's way of flagging the change for review. Definitely select "lack of work" since that's literally what happened - the seasonal position ended so there's no more work available. Keep certifying every single week even if payments get held up during their review process. I made the mistake of skipping a week thinking my claim was messed up and it created a whole other headache. The system is confusing but it does work for seasonal employees - you just have to be patient and persistent!

I'm also stuck in adjudication hell right now - filed my claim 11 days ago after a company-wide layoff and it's been "adjudication in progress" the entire time. This thread has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea about continuing to certify during adjudication or that the 3-4 week timeline was so consistent for layoff cases. I've been checking my account obsessively multiple times a day (guilty as charged!) but I'm definitely switching to that weekly Monday check strategy. It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in this process and that the retroactive payments will cover these weeks we're all waiting. The lack of communication from NYS Department of Labor is really frustrating when you're already stressed about finances, but reading everyone's success stories gives me hope. Thanks for creating this thread - it's exactly what I needed to see right now!

I'm in week 2 of adjudication after being laid off from my tech job, and this thread has been so reassuring! Like everyone else, I was panicking seeing that vague "adjudication in progress" status with zero explanation. The 3-4 week timeline for straightforward layoffs seems pretty consistent based on all your experiences. I definitely made the mistake of checking obsessively at first - sometimes 5-6 times a day! - but I'm switching to the Monday-only approach starting this week. The tip about continuing to certify during adjudication is huge - I almost stopped doing it thinking it was pointless. It's frustrating that NYS Department of Labor provides so little communication during this process, especially when people are already stressed about losing their income. But reading all these success stories gives me confidence that it will eventually work out. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and advice - this community support makes such a difference during a really uncertain time!

I want to add one more important point that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the difference between gross and net earnings when reporting to NYS Department of Labor. You need to report your gross earnings (what you made before expenses), not what you actually took home after gas, wear and tear on your car, etc. So if you made $100 doing DoorDash deliveries but spent $20 on gas, you still report the full $100 on your weekly certification. The expenses can only be deducted later when you file your taxes, not when you're calculating your weekly UI benefit reduction. I made this mistake early on and had to call to clarify with an agent. It's a common misconception that trips people up!

Another thing to consider is keeping documentation of your job search activities separate from your gig work schedule. I recommend using a calendar or planner to block out specific times for job applications, interviews, and networking - this way if NYS Department of Labor ever questions your availability for full-time work, you can show that you're actively dedicating substantial time to finding permanent employment. I typically spend mornings on job search activities and save gig work for afternoons/evenings. Also, when you do land interviews, make sure you're available and not committed to gig work during those times. It shows you're prioritizing your job search over the temporary gig income, which is exactly what unemployment benefits are designed to support.