Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been working in employment law for the past 8 years, I can confirm that the advice given here is spot on. The key distinction that everyone's correctly identified is that you're not claiming benefits because you left for maternity leave - you're claiming because your position was eliminated while you were on approved leave. That's a crucial difference in NY unemployment law. A few additional points that might help: 1) Make sure to file your claim as soon as possible - there's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and delays in filing can affect your benefit start date. 2) When asked about your reason for unemployment on the application, select "lack of work" or "position eliminated" rather than anything related to personal/family reasons. 3) Keep detailed records of EVERYTHING - every conversation, every document, every job application. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case. 4) If you get denied initially (which sometimes happens even with valid claims), don't give up! You have the right to appeal and provide additional documentation. The fact that you have text messages from your employer about hiring a permanent replacement is excellent evidence. Combined with your medical clearance to work, you have a strong case for benefits. Best of luck to you and congratulations on your new baby!

I'm a new mom who went through this exact situation in NY just 8 months ago! Reading through all these responses brings back so many memories of the stress and confusion. I want to add one more piece of advice that really helped me: when you do get through to speak with someone at NYSDOL, ask them to put notes in your file about what they told you. Sometimes different representatives give conflicting information, and having official notes in your case file can prevent issues later if someone else reviews your claim. Also, I see people mentioning the Claimyr service - I used it too and it was a lifesaver. Just make sure when you do connect with an agent through any method that you clearly explain your situation as "my employer permanently filled my position while I was on approved medical leave" rather than leading with "I had a baby." The framing really matters for how they categorize your claim. One last thing - if you end up having to appeal a decision (hopefully you won't!), consider reaching out to your local legal aid society. Many have employment law volunteers who can help with unemployment appeals at no cost. You've got this, and congratulations on your little one! The bureaucracy is frustrating but you deserve these benefits.

I'm 62 and went through this same situation about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my job at a logistics company. Just want to echo what everyone else has said - your social security retirement benefits will NOT reduce your unemployment benefits in New York. The NYS Department of Labor keeps these completely separate. When I filed my weekly claims, I never had to report my social security income at all. The trickiest part was actually proving I was still actively job searching since some people assume that if you're collecting social security, you must be "retired" and not really looking for work. But that's not the case at all! I kept detailed records of every application I submitted and made sure to apply to at least 3-4 positions each week. After about 4 months, I actually found a great part-time position that lets me work around my social security schedule. The combination of partial unemployment benefits, part-time wages, and social security has worked out really well for me. Don't stress about the social security issue - focus on getting your claim filed and start your job search documentation right away!

I'm 63 and actually just went through this process successfully about 3 months ago when my company downsized. Can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - social security retirement benefits absolutely do NOT affect your unemployment benefits in New York! The NYS Department of Labor treats them as completely separate income sources. When I filed my initial claim, there wasn't even a question about social security income on the application. The weekly certifications never ask about it either because it's not considered "wages" that would reduce your benefits. The hardest part for me was actually getting through to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor to confirm this initially - their phone lines are constantly busy. But once I did connect with a representative, they were very clear that social security retirement is totally separate from unemployment insurance. Just make sure you're prepared to document your job search activities thoroughly and stay committed to finding new employment. At our age, we bring valuable experience to the table, so don't get discouraged! File that claim with confidence - you're entitled to both benefits simultaneously.

Ruby, I went through something similar when I was pregnant with my second child. The key thing to understand is that NYS unemployment law requires you to be "able and available" for work, but medical restrictions don't automatically disqualify you if there are jobs you CAN still do with those restrictions. Since your doctor put you on modified bed rest with a 10-pound lifting restriction, you'd need to show that you're still able to perform other types of work that don't involve heavy lifting - like office work, customer service, etc. Document everything with your employer about the accommodation request, and when you file your claim, emphasize that you're willing and able to work within your medical restrictions. The NYS Department of Labor will evaluate whether there are suitable jobs available for someone with your limitations. Also definitely look into Paid Family Leave as PrinceJoe mentioned - that might be a better fit for your situation.

I'm dealing with something similar right now - 6 months pregnant and my retail job involves a lot of standing and lifting that I can't do anymore per my doctor's orders. What I learned from talking to a lawyer is that you might want to first request accommodations through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - pregnancy-related medical conditions can qualify for temporary accommodations. If your employer refuses reasonable accommodations (like reassigning you to lighter duties), then you have a stronger case for unemployment benefits. The NYS Department of Labor will look at whether your employer made good faith efforts to keep you employed within your restrictions. Also check if your employer offers short-term disability - that might bridge the gap until your baby is born and you can apply for Paid Family Leave. Don't give up without exploring all your options first!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Just completed my ID.me verification 2 days ago and I'm still getting that automated message when I call the unemployment line. It's so frustrating because I did everything correctly and got all the confirmation emails, but their system just won't recognize it. This thread has been incredibly helpful though - I was starting to panic that I had somehow messed up the verification process. Reading everyone's experiences is really reassuring that this is just a common glitch with NY's system. Just tried the web portal at labor.ny.gov like so many people suggested and I was able to certify successfully even though the phone system is still being stubborn! It's honestly crazy that this ID.me integration issue is still happening so frequently in 2025 when it's clearly affecting tons of people every week. But I'm really grateful for this community helping each other navigate these frustrating system problems. Definitely saving that technical support number (855-829-3674) just in case I need it if this takes longer than expected. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making me feel less alone in dealing with this mess!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just completed my ID.me verification 3 days ago and I'm still getting that automated message when I call the DOL line. It's so frustrating because I got all the confirmation emails and the green checkmark, but their phone system acts like it never happened. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to worry I had messed something up during verification. Just tried the web portal at labor.ny.gov like everyone suggested and was able to certify successfully even though the phone system is still being stubborn! What a relief to know there's a workaround. It's honestly ridiculous that NY still hasn't fixed this ID.me integration problem when it's clearly affecting so many people every single week. But I'm really grateful for this community sharing experiences and solutions. Definitely saving that technical support number (855-829-3674) in case I need it if this drags on past the 7 business day timeframe. Thanks everyone for making me feel less alone in dealing with this broken system!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your wage history or get questions answered about your potential benefit amount, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was worth it for me since I couldn't get through on my own after trying for days.

One more thing to consider - if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately even if you're getting severance pay. The waiting period starts from when you file, not when the severance runs out. I made the mistake of waiting until my severance ended and lost out on a week of benefits because of the mandatory waiting week. Also, severance typically won't affect your eligibility as long as you're genuinely unemployed and available for work.