I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! Just wanted to add that when I called the NYS Department of Labor claims center yesterday, they told me it's better to report your return to work even a few days early rather than risk being late. The representative said they'd rather process an early notification than deal with overpayment issues later. She also mentioned that if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, the my.ny.gov portal is usually the fastest way to report - it's available 24/7 and you get an immediate confirmation. Make sure to save a screenshot of that confirmation for your records! The whole process took me less than 5 minutes online. Good luck with your new job Andre, and thanks to everyone else for sharing their experiences - this thread has been super helpful for those of us navigating this process!

This thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. Just to add one more tip - when you report your return to work on my.ny.gov, make sure you have your new employer's information handy (company name, address, etc.) because the system will ask for those details. Also, if you're starting a part-time position instead of full-time, the rules are different - you might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on your hours and wages. But for full-time work like Andre's situation, definitely stop filing claims completely once you start. The peace of mind from reporting it properly is worth way more than any hassle of doing the paperwork!

same boat here, filed twice in 18 months and no problems. just make sure you file within the right timeframe after getting laid off

I was in a similar situation - filed my first claim in early 2023, then got rehired for about 6 months before being laid off again. The key thing is making sure you earned enough wages between claims to establish a new benefit year. NYS DOL will automatically calculate whether you qualify based on your work history. Don't worry about being "flagged" - layoffs are unfortunately common and they understand people may need to file multiple legitimate claims. Just be honest about your work dates and wages on the application.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this process recently. I was laid off from my software engineering job in September and have been using Coursera courses as part of my job search activities since then. I typically spend 4-6 hours per week on Python and machine learning courses, which has been accepted as one activity without any issues during my weekly certifications. The key things I've learned: 1) Keep detailed logs with dates and hours spent, 2) Save all completion certificates and progress screenshots, 3) Make sure the courses clearly relate to your field, and 4) Remember it only counts as ONE activity no matter how many hours you put in. I also keep a simple spreadsheet tracking: Course name, Date, Hours spent, Topics covered, and Skills gained. This has been super helpful for staying organized and would be perfect documentation if I ever get audited. The courses have actually been really valuable for my job search too - I've been able to mention specific skills I've gained in interviews. Hope this helps! The system can be confusing but as long as you document everything and meet the 3-hour minimum, you should be fine.

I've been on NY unemployment since December and can confirm what others are saying about the 3-hour minimum for Coursera. I'm taking cybersecurity courses (relevant to my IT background) and do about 4 hours per week, which counts as one activity. The tricky part is they really do want to see relevance to your field - I had a friend who got questioned because they were taking creative writing courses while looking for accounting jobs. My advice: stick to courses that clearly enhance your employability in your field (Python and data analytics are perfect for IT), keep screenshots of your progress pages, and save every certificate. I use a simple Google Sheet to track course name, date, hours, and what modules I completed each week. Also remember you still need 2 other job search activities each week - applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. The documentation requirements seem inconsistent depending on which agent you talk to, so better to over-document than under-document. I haven't been audited yet but I'm prepared with everything saved in a folder on my desktop.

The NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing about these requirements! I've been working gig jobs for over a year and still wasn't sure if I qualified when my main contract ended. Turns out as long as you have W-2 or 1099 income during the base period quarters, you should be fine. Don't let the uncertainty stop you from applying.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! I was so worried about not having enough work history, but it turns out the NYS Department of Labor website has a really helpful eligibility calculator that can give you a quick idea if you qualify based on your earnings. You just need to gather your pay stubs or tax documents from the past 18 months. Also, even if your hours got cut, you might still be able to get partial unemployment benefits while working part-time, which could really help with your rent situation. The application process online is actually pretty straightforward once you have your employment info ready.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!!! They deny legitimate claims all the time and make it impossible to fight back. I've been dealing with NYS Department of Labor for months and they just keep moving the goalposts. You should definitely explore legal options because this is affecting people's livelihoods!

I understand your frustration with the religious accommodation issue. You should definitely document everything about your religious practices and the fact that you need Sundays off for religious observance. When you go to your appeal hearing, bring any documentation you have about your religious beliefs and explain that refusing work due to religious reasons is protected. NYS Department of Labor has to consider religious accommodations under both state and federal law. You might also want to contact a legal aid organization that handles employment issues - they sometimes take cases involving religious discrimination for free or low cost. Don't give up on the appeal process, even though it's frustrating.