I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with two kids as well. You absolutely can and should apply for both! Don't wait - the processing times can be weeks for both programs. For TANF cash assistance, you'll need to go to your local Department of Social Services office with documents like proof of income loss, rent/utility bills, and ID for you and the kids. They'll do an interview and calculate your benefits based on your household size and any other income including unemployment. The unemployment office doesn't need to know about TANF, but social services needs to know about your UI benefits. Also look into SNAP (food stamps) and emergency rental assistance programs - there are resources specifically for people in your situation. Hang in there, it gets better!

I'm going through something similar right now and wanted to share what I learned from my caseworker. When you apply for TANF, bring documentation of your job loss (like a layoff notice or termination letter) along with your unemployment claim confirmation. This helps speed up the process since they can see you're actively seeking benefits from both programs legitimately. Also, some local DSS offices have emergency food pantries or vouchers available while you're waiting for SNAP approval - definitely ask about those resources too since grocery money can be tight while waiting for everything to process. The whole system feels overwhelming at first but having both safety nets really does help when you have kids depending on you.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - childcare emergencies are so stressful and it feels like there's no good option. I've been in similar situations and what helped me was being proactive with my employer about communication. Have you considered writing a brief email to your manager explaining the situation and your specific plan to resolve it? Something like "I understand the attendance concerns and I'm actively working to secure new childcare. I have interviews scheduled with three potential babysitters this weekend and expect to have coverage by [specific date]." This shows you're taking it seriously and aren't just hoping the problem goes away. Also, many retail stores are short-staffed right now, so your manager might be more willing to work with you if they see you're genuinely trying to fix the situation rather than just calling out indefinitely. Even if you do end up getting terminated, having that email trail showing you communicated about the issue and had a resolution plan could really help your unemployment case.

I feel for you so much - this is such an impossible situation that so many working parents face. One thing I learned when I was dealing with childcare issues is that you might want to look into whether your state has any emergency childcare voucher programs. New York sometimes has emergency assistance for working parents through their social services department. Also, some churches and community centers offer drop-in childcare even if you're not a member - it might be worth calling around to see what's available in your area for temporary solutions. If you do end up getting terminated, definitely appeal if NYS Department of Labor initially denies your claim. From what I've seen, they're more likely to approve benefits on appeal when you can show you were actively trying to resolve the childcare issue and that it was truly beyond your control. Keep every text message, email, and record of your search efforts - that documentation will be crucial if you need to prove you weren't just being irresponsible.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Filed my claim 4 weeks ago, got approved, been doing weekly certifications religiously, but zero payments. Like others mentioned, I found a notice buried in my correspondence inbox that I completely missed - apparently they needed additional documentation from me that I never saw because it didn't trigger any obvious alerts. It's so frustrating that these critical notices can just sit there while you're wondering why your money isn't coming. Definitely check every section of your account thoroughly, not just the main dashboard. The NYS Department of Labor system really needs better notification alerts for this stuff.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a new member dealing with a similar situation - my unemployment claim was approved 3 weeks ago and I've been filing weekly but no payments yet. After reading all these comments, I immediately went and checked my correspondence inbox (which I honestly had no idea existed) and sure enough, there was a notice from last week asking for additional identity verification documents. The notice was just sitting there with no email alert or anything on the main dashboard. It's crazy how they hide these critical notices! Now I at least know why my payments are delayed and what I need to do. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when the NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing to navigate.

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer properly reported all your regular wages, not just tips. I discovered my previous employer had misclassified some of my hours, which reduced my benefit amount. Also, if you worked multiple jobs during your base period, make sure all employers are showing up in your wage records. Sometimes smaller employers or restaurants don't report correctly to NYS Department of Labor, and you can get those wages added if you have documentation like pay stubs or W-2s.

I went through something similar when I first applied. One thing that really helped me was creating a spreadsheet with all my pay periods, hours worked, and what was actually reported vs what I earned. It made it much easier to spot discrepancies when I compared it to what NYS Department of Labor had on file. Also, don't forget that your base period might not include your most recent earnings - there's often a lag, so your highest earning quarters might not even be in the calculation period. You can check this by looking at exactly which quarters they used for your base period in your determination letter.

Just to clarify the misconduct standard for everyone - NYS Department of Labor defines misconduct as behavior that shows willful disregard of the employer's interests, deliberate violation of rules, or disregard of standards that the employer has a right to expect. Being fired for inability to perform the job, lack of skills, or good faith errors typically won't disqualify you from receiving benefits. Always file your claim first and let them investigate rather than assuming you're not eligible.

I went through something similar last year when I got let go for "not meeting expectations." The company was clearly downsizing but used performance as the reason. I was terrified to file thinking I'd get denied, but I'm so glad I did. NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after a brief phone interview where they just asked me to explain what happened. The key thing they seemed to care about was whether I was deliberately doing a bad job or violating clear policies - which I wasn't. My advice is definitely file ASAP since there's a waiting period anyway, and be completely honest about the circumstances. Even if you're unsure, let them make the call rather than missing out on benefits you might be entitled to.