I went through this process about 6 months ago and wanted to share some practical tips. First, yes, caring for an elderly parent absolutely qualifies - I got my exemption approved for caring for my dad with dementia. The key is being very specific in your documentation. Don't just say "health issues" - have your doctor write exactly what limitations you have and how they prevent you from job searching. For caregiving, I had to provide my father's medical records showing his diagnosis, a letter from his doctor explaining the level of care needed, and a brief statement from me describing my daily caregiving duties. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to approval. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - you can actually start the application process online through the NYS DOL website, which saves a lot of time compared to trying to reach someone by phone. Just look for "Request Work Search Waiver" in your online account portal. Good luck!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add some additional information that might help. When I applied for my work search exemption due to caring for my elderly mother with Alzheimer's, the counselor explained that the key is demonstrating that your caregiving responsibilities are substantial and ongoing. For elderly parent care, you'll typically need: 1) Medical documentation of your parent's condition requiring care, 2) A letter from their doctor specifying the type and frequency of care needed, 3) Your own statement describing your daily caregiving duties and how they conflict with job search activities. The exemption periods can vary - mine was initially approved for 10 weeks and I was able to renew it twice with updated medical documentation. One important thing to note: keep a detailed log of your caregiving activities (medical appointments, daily care tasks, emergencies, etc.) as this can serve as supporting evidence. Also, if you have your own health issues on top of caregiving, make sure to include documentation for both - they consider the combined impact on your ability to search for work. The process can feel overwhelming but the system is designed to help people in genuine need.

I've been reading through this thread and wanted to add some encouragement - your situation is actually pretty strong for getting approved. Working 25 hours/week at $16/hour for 8 months puts you well above the monetary requirements, and having schedule conflicts between two jobs is very different from just being unreliable. The fact that you only received one verbal warning in 8 months shows this wasn't an ongoing disciplinary issue. I'd suggest when you file your claim, be specific about the dates you were late, the reasons (conflicts with your other job), and emphasize that you were actively working multiple positions to support yourself. NYS Department of Labor typically views job juggling as responsible behavior, not misconduct. Also keep copies of any communications you had with your manager about scheduling - those text messages could be valuable if you need to appeal. The worst case scenario is you get denied and have to go through the appeal process, but you've already paid into the system through your payroll deductions. Don't let fear of potential denial stop you from claiming benefits you may be entitled to. File online today and take it one step at a time!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat - just got let go from my part-time position at a coffee shop after 10 months for what they called "scheduling conflicts." I was working 22 hours a week while also doing freelance graphic design work, and sometimes my freelance deadlines would run over into my coffee shop shifts. Management said I was "unreliable" but I only had issues maybe 4-5 times total and always tried to give advance notice when possible. Based on everyone's advice here, it sounds like juggling multiple income sources actually shows work ethic rather than being a negative. I'm definitely going to apply online at labor.ny.gov today and document all my communications with my manager about the scheduling conflicts. It's encouraging to see so many people successfully navigate this process, even with initial denials. The wage requirements shouldn't be an issue since I was making $17/hour for almost a year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has made what seemed like an impossible situation feel much more manageable!

I just went through this process myself about 6 months ago. The wait is definitely nerve-wracking! In my case, I received the written decision exactly 12 business days after my hearing. They sent it both by regular mail and updated my online account on the same day. One thing I wish someone had told me - if you win your appeal, make sure to check that all your back payments are calculated correctly when they process them. I had to call and get one week corrected because their system missed it initially. Hang in there, 6 days is still well within the normal timeframe!

I'm going through a similar situation right now - had my hearing 8 days ago and checking my online account obsessively! From what I've read in the NYS DOL handbook, they're supposed to issue decisions within 30 calendar days, but most people seem to get them within 2-3 weeks. One thing that helped my anxiety was setting up text alerts through the NY.gov website so I get notified immediately when there's any update to my claim status. Also, definitely keep filing your weekly certifications even while the appeal is pending - if you win, those weeks need to be on file for you to get the back pay. The waiting is brutal but you're still well within the normal timeframe. Fingers crossed we both hear good news soon!

UPDATE: I went to the career center this morning and got exactly what I needed! They printed a UI Monetary Benefit Determination letter showing my claim details including the end date of September 6th. Took about 45 minutes total with the wait. The staff was really helpful. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

For anyone else dealing with this, I just want to add that if you're in a time crunch like I was last month, you can also try contacting your local assemblyperson's office. They often have direct lines to state agencies and can help expedite document requests. I got my unemployment end date letter within 2 business days after their office made a call on my behalf. Worth trying if the career center is too far or if you're hitting roadblocks with the other methods!

I've been dealing with the same confusion with my small pottery business! After reading through all these responses and doing my own research, it's definitely NET income you should report. I made the mistake of reporting gross for my first few certifications and was basically cheating myself out of benefits I was entitled to. The way I think about it now - if I sell $500 worth of pottery but spent $300 on clay, glazes, kiln firing, and shipping, I only actually "earned" $200 that week. That's what unemployment cares about - your actual profit, not your total sales. I finally got through to an agent last week (took forever calling directly) and she confirmed this is correct. She also mentioned that if you've been reporting wrong, you can usually get it corrected by explaining the confusion. The system really should make this clearer though - so many people are struggling with the same question! Keep detailed records of everything - receipts, materials costs, platform fees, shipping. If they ever audit you, you'll need to prove your expenses were legitimate business costs. Good luck with your Etsy shop!

I'm in a similar situation with my freelance graphic design work while on unemployment! After reading all these responses, I'm convinced it's NET income we should report. The confusion is real though - I called NY unemployment 4 times and got 3 different answers from different agents. What finally made it click for me was thinking about it like taxes. When you file as self-employed, you report your profit after business expenses on Schedule C, not your gross receipts. Unemployment should work the same way since they're both government programs looking at your actual earnings. I've been keeping a weekly spreadsheet tracking my income and expenses - client payments minus software subscriptions, equipment costs, home office expenses, etc. It's tedious but worth it for peace of mind. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're reporting income in the week you actually DO the work, not when you get paid for it. I had a client pay me $800 for a project I completed 3 weeks earlier, and I almost reported it in the wrong week. The whole system is unnecessarily confusing but at least we're all figuring it out together! Good luck with your jewelry business - handmade Etsy shops are so much work but really rewarding.