I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to certify for partial benefits for the past week and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 15-20 hours a week at a restaurant and this never happened before the system update. It's so frustrating because I really need those partial benefits to make ends meet. Has anyone found a reliable way to get through to an actual person on the phone? I've been trying for days but the hold times are impossible.

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Been trying to certify my partial benefits for almost two weeks now and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 16 hours a week at a local coffee shop and this never happened before their September update. It's really stressing me out because I depend on those partial benefits to cover rent. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the only real solution is calling them to get it manually fixed, but the hold times are absolutely brutal. Has anyone had any luck getting through during specific times of day? I'm getting desperate here and might have to try that claimyr service people keep mentioning since I can't afford to miss another week of payments.

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see so many helpful responses here! I had the exact same login issues last week and what finally worked was a combination of several suggestions mentioned here. First, I cleared my browser cache completely, then went directly to my.ny.gov (not through any search results), made sure I was using Chrome instead of Safari, and entered my PIN without any dashes or spaces. The key thing for me was also making sure I had both my Social Security number AND the confirmation number from my initial filing ready - the system prompted me for both during the verification process. It took me about 3 tries over 2 days, but I finally got in. One more tip - if you get a "session timeout" error, don't immediately try again. I waited about 15 minutes and then it worked perfectly. The system seems to lock you out temporarily if you make too many failed attempts in a row. Hang in there, everyone - once you're in the first time, it really does get much easier!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me - if you're using a work computer or public WiFi, that might be causing some of the connection issues. I kept getting error messages at work but when I tried from my home computer on my personal internet, it worked much better. Also, make sure you don't have any VPN or security software running that might be blocking the connection to my.ny.gov. The NYS system seems pretty sensitive to anything that might look like unusual network activity. Really grateful for all the detailed advice in this thread - going to try the Chrome browser suggestion and the early morning timing that people mentioned!

Just wanted to add that if you're unsure, document EVERYTHING. Keep a log of every job application, networking event, career fair, even informational interviews. I use a simple spreadsheet with dates, company names, and what type of contact it was. This way if there's ever a question about your work search activities, you have proof.

I'm dealing with this exact same confusion! I was laid off from a tech job in January and I've been second-guessing myself every week on which category to select. What's helped me is calling it a "general work search" situation since I'm looking for similar roles to what I had before. But honestly, the descriptions are so vague that I feel like I'm guessing half the time. The stress of potentially messing up my benefits over unclear wording is almost worse than being unemployed itself. Really wish they would just provide clearer examples for each category.

ugh this whole system is such a nightmare!! why does everything with unemployment have to be so complicated?? i just want to reopen my claim and get back to filing weekly like before but nooo they have to make it impossible 😤

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! When you're trying to reopen online and it's asking for a new application, that usually means your benefit year expired. If it's been more than a year since you first filed, you'll need to start fresh with a new claim. But if it's only been since October, you should definitely be able to reopen the existing one. Try clearing your browser cache and cookies for the my.ny.gov site first - sometimes that fixes the glitch. If that doesn't work, you really do need to call. The best time I found to get through was right when they open at 8am or around lunchtime when call volume drops a bit. Good luck!

I went through this same situation about 4 months ago. The reopening process itself is pretty simple once you find the right button on my.ny.gov, but here's what I wish I had known: make sure you have your last employer's information ready (company name, address, dates of employment, reason for separation) because they'll ask for all of that again even though you're just reopening. Also, if your previous claim had any outstanding issues or appeals, those might need to be resolved before you can reopen. The good news is that since you're within your benefit year, you should be able to pick up where you left off with your remaining balance.

I just went through this exact process last month! You can definitely reopen your claim since it's only been 6 months. One tip that really helped me - when you log into my.ny.gov, if you don't see the "reopen claim" button right away, try clicking on "View Claim History" first, then the reopen option should appear. Also, have your recent pay stubs ready because they might ask for them to verify your employment dates. The whole process took about 10 days for me from reopening to getting my first payment. Good luck!