Just want to add that timing matters too with separation agreements and unemployment. If you're getting severance pay, that might delay when your UI benefits start even if you're approved. NYS Department of Labor has rules about how severance affects your benefit timing so make sure you understand that part too before making your decision.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and it worked out fine! The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor cares more about the actual reason for separation than what the paperwork says. When I filed my claim, I was completely transparent about the separation agreement and explained that while it technically said "voluntary resignation," the reality was that my position was being eliminated due to company restructuring. The UI representative I spoke with said this happens all the time and they're used to evaluating these cases. Just make sure you have documentation of the circumstances that led to the separation agreement - like emails about budget cuts, layoff announcements, or anything showing it wasn't really your choice to leave. Also, don't forget to ask HR if you can negotiate the language in the agreement before signing - sometimes they'll add a clause acknowledging the involuntary nature of the separation which makes the UI claim much smoother.

I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same frustrating experience last week! After days of failed attempts, what finally worked for me was calling at exactly 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning using my work's landline. The key was entering my PIN extremely slowly - like 3 seconds between each digit - and waiting for the complete automated message before inputting anything. I also discovered that if you get a "please try again" message after entering your PIN, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes if you wait about 10 seconds, it will prompt you to re-enter it and work the second time. It's absolutely insane that we need these elaborate workarounds just to file a basic weekly claim, but persistence with the right strategy does eventually pay off. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

New to this community and currently facing this exact same phone system nightmare! I've been trying to file my weekly claim for the past 5 days with no luck - getting either busy signals, disconnects after long holds, or PIN error messages even though I know I'm entering it correctly. Reading through all these incredible strategies has given me so much hope! I'm planning to try the Tuesday 8 AM landline approach with the slow PIN entry technique tomorrow morning. It's absolutely mind-boggling that filing a simple weekly unemployment claim has become this complex, but I'm so grateful for everyone who has shared their hard-won workarounds. This thread should honestly be pinned as the official "How to Actually Reach NYS Department of Labor" guide! Will definitely report back with my results and any new discoveries. Thank you all for creating such a supportive resource for navigating this broken system!

yeah they definitely take it out automatically. happened to my brother when he was on unemployment last year. just be glad you're still getting something after support is taken out!

Just wanted to add that you can also check with your local Child Support Enforcement office to confirm the exact timing and amount of deductions. Sometimes there can be delays or discrepancies, and they can give you a clearer timeline than DOL. Also, if your financial situation has changed significantly due to unemployment, you might be able to request a modification of your support order - though that's a separate legal process from the unemployment benefits. Keep all your payment records organized in case you need them later.

As someone who's been through the temp-to-unemployment process multiple times, I can confirm everything others have said here is spot on. One additional tip - when you're filling out the online application, they'll ask for your "last day worked" which should be the actual last day of your warehouse assignment, not when the staffing agency told you there was no more work. Also, don't be surprised if they send you a questionnaire about the circumstances of your job separation - this is totally normal for temp workers and nothing to worry about. Just answer honestly that your assignment ended due to completion/lack of available work. The whole process usually goes smoothly for temp situations like yours since it's so common in NY. Good luck!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - you're absolutely eligible for unemployment when a temp assignment ends! I went through this same situation about 8 months ago when my temp job at a logistics company ended after 4 months. The process was actually much smoother than I expected. Make sure you have all your pay stubs from the staffing agency and apply online at labor.ny.gov right away. The waiting week starts from when you file, not when you lost work, so don't delay. Also, keep in touch with your staffing agency while collecting benefits - they might have new assignments pop up and you'll need to document those contacts for your weekly job search requirements anyway. The NY unemployment system really does understand temp work situations, so don't stress too much about it!

dont overthink it just file and be honest about everything. the worst that happens is they tell u to wait a week or two

I went through this same situation a few months ago. The important thing to remember is that vacation pay is allocated to specific time periods - usually the weeks immediately following your last day of work. So if you got laid off on a Friday and have 2 weeks of vacation pay coming, that pay typically covers the next two weeks. During those weeks, you might not be eligible for unemployment benefits (depending on the amount), but after that period ends, your regular benefits should kick in. Definitely file your initial claim right away though - there's usually a waiting period anyway, and you don't want to delay the process. Just be upfront about the vacation pay situation when you do your weekly certifications.