Hey, I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation right now. Got a forfeit notice three weeks ago and have been panicking about whether they'll cut off my benefits. Reading through everyone's responses here is super reassuring - sounds like they do keep paying during the appeal process which is a huge relief. I'm definitely taking the advice about saving some money just in case I lose. The idea of having to pay everything back is terrifying but at least now I know what to expect. Also going to start gathering all my documentation like everyone suggests. Has anyone had success with those callback services that keep getting mentioned? I've been trying to call unemployment for weeks with no luck and I'm getting desperate to talk to someone about my specific case.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through this exact situation last year. Yes, they absolutely continue paying benefits while your appeal is pending - that's standard procedure. I had a similar forfeit issue (they claimed I didn't report some freelance income properly) and kept getting paid for the full 5 months it took to get my hearing. But here's the important part: START SAVING MONEY NOW. I can't stress this enough. If you lose the appeal, you'll owe back every penny you received during the appeal period PLUS you'll have to serve the original forfeit penalty. I won my case thankfully, but I watched someone at my hearing lose and they owed back over $5,000. For your hearing preparation, organize everything chronologically and bring multiple copies of all documents. The judges love specifics - exact dates, exact amounts, no estimates. Also, if you can show you made a good faith effort to report correctly (even if you made an error), that can help reduce penalties. One last thing - if you're having trouble reaching them by phone (and who isn't?), I'd honestly consider using one of those callback services people mentioned. I was skeptical at first but after weeks of busy signals, it was worth it to actually talk to a human being who could explain exactly what they thought I did wrong. Knowledge is power in these situations. Good luck with your November hearing!

I was in a very similar situation last year when I got laid off from my job as a youth coordinator at a Methodist church in upstate NY. I was so worried about the religious exemption issue that I almost didn't file, but I'm glad I did! My claim was approved without any issues. The church had been paying unemployment taxes all along. The NYS Department of Labor representatives I spoke with said that most churches in New York do participate in the system unless they're very small operations. Don't let the religious aspect discourage you from filing - you earned those benefits through your work. The online application process was straightforward and I received my first payment within a few weeks. Best of luck with your claim!

I work in HR at a mid-sized nonprofit and can confirm what others have said - the vast majority of religious organizations in NY do pay unemployment taxes. The only exceptions are usually very small churches (under 4 employees for most of the year) or those that specifically elected religious exemption status, which is rare. Even if you're unsure about your church's status, there's absolutely no downside to filing. The NYS Department of Labor will verify your employer's participation automatically when they process your claim. If for some reason your church was exempt, your claim would simply be denied with no negative consequences to you. But given that you worked there for 2 years as administrative staff, it sounds like a substantial enough operation that they likely do participate in the unemployment system. Go ahead and file - you've got nothing to lose and benefits to gain!

Another thing to keep in mind is that unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you'll get a 1099-G at the end of the year. You can choose to have taxes withheld (10% federal) when you certify each week, or just pay when you file your return. Also, if you do get benefits, make sure to keep certifying every week even if you find temporary work - you might still qualify for partial benefits if your weekly earnings are low enough.

One more tip - if you do end up needing to file, try to do it online early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) when the system is less busy. The NYS Department of Labor website tends to crash or run really slowly during peak hours. Also, once you start receiving benefits, they direct deposit on Tuesdays if you certify by Monday, so plan your timing accordingly. I learned this the hard way when I was counting on money that didn't come until the following week because I missed the certification deadline.

Listen up because this is important. NY Unemployment considers several factors when determining if refusing work is valid: - Childcare responsibilities are a legitimate reason if you can't find reasonable care - The hours must be during normal business hours unless that's standard for your industry - You need to document everything - Keep proof of your childcare's hours - Save all communication with the employer When reporting, be clear and detailed. If you need to speak with someone directly about this, use claimyr.com - they'll get you through to an agent fast. Better to handle this correctly now than deal with issues later. Source: Been through this myself and helped others navigate the system.

Just want to add that you should also check if your childcare provider can give you a letter stating their hours of operation. This kind of documentation can be really helpful if unemployment asks for proof of the conflict. Also, if you haven't already, look into whether there are any evening childcare options in your area - even if they're not feasible, showing that you explored alternatives demonstrates good faith effort. Stay strong mama, the system should work for parents not against us! 💪

Just apply and see what happens. Worst case they deny you but at least you'll know for sure. Make sure you mention the light duty restrictions and that your employer has no suitable work available when you file.

I went through something similar about two years ago when I was on light duty after a shoulder injury. The NYS Department of Labor told me that you can potentially qualify for partial unemployment benefits if your employer can't accommodate your work restrictions, even if you're still technically employed. The key factors they look at are: 1) whether you're able to work within your medical restrictions, 2) whether your employer has suitable light duty work available, and 3) your reduction in hours/wages. Since you're only getting 60% from workers comp and no wages, you should definitely apply. Just be upfront about everything - your restrictions, the workers comp payments, and that your employer said no light duty positions are available. They'll make the determination based on your specific situation.