Guys, I heard they're updating the system next month. Might fix some of these issues. Fingers crossed 🤞

I had this exact same issue a few months back! What worked for me was checking if there were any hyphens or apostrophes in the maiden name that I was missing. My mom's maiden name is O'Brien and I kept entering it as OBrien without the apostrophe. Also, try checking if you used the maiden name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card - sometimes there are slight variations. Hope this helps!

Same boat here! Started collecting in January and wasn't sure about the job search thing either. Glad someone asked this question because I was worried I was missing something important.

Just to add some clarity on what counts as valid work search activities - I went through this last year. Besides job applications, you can also count things like attending virtual career workshops, registering with temp agencies, creating profiles on job boards like Indeed or ZipRecruiter, and even informational interviews. The key is to keep good records with dates and details. I use a simple spreadsheet to track everything. Also, if you're having trouble finding 3 activities per week in your specific field, you can broaden your search to related fields or consider remote opportunities. The DOL understands that some industries have limited openings, but they want to see genuine effort.

just wanted to say thanks for asking this question! i've been wondering the same thing about my photography work

One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to keep detailed records of all your freelance work - dates, hours worked, amount earned, and client information. NYS Department of Labor may ask for documentation during audits or if there are any questions about your claims. I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything. Also, don't forget that you'll need to pay self-employment taxes on your freelance income, so set aside about 25-30% of what you earn for taxes. The unemployment office doesn't withhold taxes from freelance earnings like they might from regular employment.

I'm in a really similar situation and this thread is giving me both anxiety and hope at the same time! My benefit year ends in December and I've been dreading this moment for months. I worked at a hotel for about 6 weeks during the summer making around $1,900 total, which I was convinced wouldn't be enough to qualify for anything. But reading through all these experiences, especially the stories from people who qualified when they thought they wouldn't, is making me realize I might have been too pessimistic. The whole base period calculation thing is way more confusing than I thought, and it sounds like they might look at earnings from before my original claim too. What's really hitting home for me is how many people are saying you absolutely MUST talk to a real person to get accurate information. I've been trying to call for over a month with no success - just busy signals and hangups. After seeing all the success stories with Claimyr here, I think I need to seriously consider it. The stress of not knowing is honestly worse than whatever it costs. I'm definitely going to file a new claim when my benefit year ends, even though I'm scared of getting rejected. This community has shown me that you really never know until you try, and the worst they can say is no. Thanks to everyone for sharing - it's making this whole process feel way less lonely and hopeless!

I'm in almost exactly the same situation and this thread has been such a relief to find! My benefit year ends in late October and I've been absolutely panicking about what happens next. I worked part-time at a temp agency for about 9 weeks during my benefit year and made around $2,200 total. Like so many others here, I assumed that wouldn't be nearly enough to qualify for a new claim. But reading through everyone's experiences, especially the success stories from people who thought they'd be denied but actually qualified, is giving me real hope. I had no idea about the complexity of base period calculations or that they might look at earnings from before my original claim. The whole Section 596 thing is completely new to me too. What's really standing out is how critical it is to actually speak with a representative instead of trying to figure this out online. I've been calling for weeks with zero success - just endless busy signals. After seeing so many people here recommend Claimyr and share their success stories, I think I need to seriously consider it. The stress and uncertainty at this point is honestly worse than whatever the cost would be. This community is providing way more useful information than months of trying to navigate the official website. I'm definitely going to file a new claim when my benefit year ends, even though I'm nervous about it. Reading everyone's stories has made me realize you really don't know until you try, and there might be more options available than any of us initially thought. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making this whole scary process feel much less isolating!

UPDATE? Did any of these suggestions work for you? I'm in a similar situation now and wondering what actually helped.

Yes! I ended up contacting my assembly person AND using Claimyr to actually reach someone. The agent I finally spoke to said there was an employer verification issue that was never communicated to me. They pushed it through manually and I got all my backpay within 5 days! Definitely reach out to your local rep - that seemed to put some pressure on them internally.