I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with the same upload nightmares! Reading everyone's solutions has given me hope that there's actually a way through this mess. I want to add one more tip that helped me yesterday - if you're on Windows, try right-clicking on your browser icon and selecting "Run as administrator" before starting the upload process. I'm not sure why this makes a difference, but it seemed to help with the timeout issues. Also, I noticed that if you have Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive syncing in the background, it can sometimes interfere with uploads. Try pausing cloud sync temporarily while you're uploading documents. Between all the amazing advice here (early morning uploads, Chrome incognito, simple filenames, compressed PDFs, VPN off, one file at a time) and these additional tweaks, hopefully we can all get past the NYS system's quirks. This community is incredible - thank you everyone for sharing your hard-won knowledge!

Wow, this thread has become the ultimate guide for NYS Department of Labor upload issues! I'm dealing with the exact same problem right now - been trying to upload my work separation documents for three days straight with constant timeouts. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both frustrating (knowing how widespread this problem is) and incredibly helpful (seeing all the solutions that actually work). I'm going to try the comprehensive approach tomorrow morning: wake up at 5:30 AM, use Chrome in incognito mode with no extensions, turn off my VPN, pause cloud syncing, run browser as administrator, rename files to simple formats like "document1.pdf", compress everything under 1MB, and upload one file at a time while patiently waiting for those confirmation messages. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need to become IT specialists just to submit basic unemployment paperwork, but I'm grateful this community has figured out so many workarounds. Thank you everyone for sharing your hard-won knowledge - hopefully we can all get through this bureaucratic nightmare together!

Yeah this happened to my brother too! He hurt his shoulder at his job and couldn't do heavy lifting anymore but his company just laid him off instead of finding him different work. He ended up getting unemployment but had to prove he was looking for office jobs and stuff he could actually do with his injury. Took forever to get approved though.

I went through something similar when I had surgery and couldn't return to my retail job that required standing for long periods. The key thing NYS Department of Labor looks at is whether you're "able and available" for SOME type of work, not necessarily your previous job. Since your doctor cleared you for non-physical work, you should be able to qualify. When you file, be honest about your restrictions but emphasize what you CAN do. Document your job search efforts for positions that fit your medical limitations - remote work, desk jobs, customer service roles, etc. Also definitely look into workers compensation since this was a workplace injury. You might be eligible for both depending on timing and circumstances. The approval process can take a while when there are medical restrictions involved, so file as soon as possible.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in a similar situation where my hours at a retail store got cut from 32 to about 15 hours per week. Reading about the 25% earnings deduction formula really clarifies things - I was worried that working any hours would completely cancel out unemployment benefits. It sounds like it's definitely worth applying since I'm working less than 4 days now. One question though - if my schedule is inconsistent week to week (sometimes 12 hours, sometimes 20), do I just report whatever I actually earned that specific week when I file my weekly claim? And does anyone know if there's a minimum number of hours you need to have worked before the reduction to qualify for partial benefits?

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the waiting week requirement. In NY, you typically have to serve one unpaid waiting week before benefits start, but this applies to partial unemployment too. So even if you get approved quickly, your first week of benefits will be unpaid. Also, make sure you file your claim as soon as your hours get reduced - you can't backdate partial unemployment claims like you sometimes can with regular unemployment. I learned this the hard way when I waited a month thinking my hours might go back up. Lost out on several weeks of potential benefits because I didn't file right away when the reduction happened.

Good luck with your move! Buffalo is a nice city. At least unemployment stuff is one less thing to worry about during a relocation.

I went through something similar when I had to move from Syracuse to Long Island for family reasons while collecting unemployment. The process was actually pretty straightforward - you just need to update your address in the online system and make sure you're still actively job searching in your new area. One thing to keep in mind is that Buffalo might have different job opportunities than Rochester, so you'll want to familiarize yourself with the local job market before you move. Also, make sure all your contact information is current because sometimes they send important notices by mail. The move itself won't disrupt your benefits as long as you stay in New York and keep meeting all the requirements!

The NYS Department of Labor system is such a nightmare to navigate. I swear they make it confusing on purpose. At least staying in state should be straightforward - it's when you cross state lines that everything becomes a bureaucratic mess.

Just wanted to add that when you update your address, also make sure to check if there are any local American Job Centers or career services in Syracuse that you should register with. Sometimes they have additional resources or job fairs that could help with your search requirements. The transition should be smooth since you're staying in NY, but taking advantage of local resources in your new city could actually help you find work faster and get off unemployment sooner.