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.

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.

I've been in a similar situation and can share what's worked for me! I was laid off from my data analyst position in December and have been using Coursera as one of my job search activities since January. Here's what I've learned through trial and error: The 3-hour minimum per week is accurate, but I'd actually recommend doing 4-5 hours to be extra safe. I take screenshots of my progress dashboard every time I complete a session, showing the date, time spent, and modules finished. I also keep all completion certificates organized in a Google Drive folder. For documentation, I maintain a simple spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Course Name, Hours Spent, Modules Completed, and Skills Gained. This has been a lifesaver for staying organized and would be perfect if I ever get audited. Since you're doing Python and data analytics, those are definitely relevant for IT roles. I've actually been able to mention specific skills I've learned in interviews, which has been a nice bonus beyond just meeting the unemployment requirements. Just remember that Coursera only counts as ONE activity per week regardless of hours, so make sure you're still doing applications and other qualifying activities. The system can be unpredictable, so over-documenting is always better than under-documenting. One tip: I found that taking courses with clear career applications (like specific Python libraries or data visualization tools) feels more defensible than general theory courses if anyone ever questions the relevance. Good luck with your job search!

I've been on NY unemployment since being laid off from my software engineering position in October, and I've been successfully using Coursera as one of my job search activities. Here's what I've learned that might help: The minimum is 3 hours per week for it to count as ONE activity, but I do 5-6 hours to be safe. I'm taking AWS certification prep and advanced JavaScript courses since they're directly relevant to my field. The key things that have worked for me: 1. Keep a detailed spreadsheet: Date, course name, hours, modules completed, and how it relates to your job goals 2. Screenshot your progress dashboard after each session 3. Save ALL certificates and completion badges to a dedicated folder 4. Make sure courses are obviously relevant to IT (Python/data analytics are perfect) I haven't been audited yet, but I have everything documented just in case. The courses have actually helped in interviews too - I've been able to discuss new frameworks and tools I've learned, which shows I'm staying current. Just remember that no matter how many hours you put in, it only counts as ONE of your three required weekly activities. You'll still need job applications and other qualifying activities. The documentation requirements seem to vary by agent, so I'd rather over-document than risk any issues. Better safe than sorry with NY unemployment!

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.

Religious accommodation is definitely a protected right that NYS Department of Labor should have considered before denying your benefits. The fact that you couldn't work Sundays due to religious observance isn't a valid "work refusal" under labor law. Beyond the appeal process, you might want to file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights if they didn't properly evaluate your religious accommodation request. While you can't directly sue for monetary damages in most cases, documenting religious discrimination could strengthen your position. Keep detailed records of all communications and make sure to emphasize in your appeal that this was a religious accommodation issue, not simply refusing work.

I'm 61 and went through this exact situation 8 months ago after being laid off from my accounting firm. My pension was $1,650/month and I was terrified I wouldn't get any unemployment benefits. Here's what I learned: NYS DOL does have a pension offset, but it's not always as straightforward as it seems. The key is understanding how they prorate your monthly pension to a weekly amount and then apply their specific calculation rules. In my case, they considered factors like whether I contributed to the pension myself (I had payroll deductions for 19 years) and the fact that this was an involuntary layoff, not retirement. I ended up getting about 40% of what my full UI benefit would have been - not great, but definitely better than zero. The most important thing is to be completely upfront about the pension when you file and keep detailed records of your job search activities. It took about 5 weeks to get everything sorted out, but persistence paid off. Don't let the initial determination discourage you if it seems unfavorable - there are often review processes available.

I'm 57 and going through this exact same situation right now - laid off from my job at a utility company after 23 years and receiving a pension of $1,950/month. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful! I filed my initial UI claim three weeks ago and disclosed the pension upfront, but I'm still waiting for a determination. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like I should be prepared for a lengthy process but shouldn't lose hope completely. I've been documenting all my job search activities and keeping records of my pension details just in case. Has anyone had experience with utility company pensions specifically? I'm wondering if there might be any industry-specific considerations. Also, for those who successfully navigated this process, did you find it helpful to have any specific documentation from your former employer beyond just the basic pension amount? I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible when they finally review my case.