I'm at week 4 of my appeal after being denied for "failure to accept suitable work" when the job they offered was completely outside my field and paid 40% less than my previous position. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring to know I'm not alone, but terrifying to see how long some of you have been waiting. I've been following the advice in this thread and called the appeal line (518-402-0205) yesterday morning at 8 AM. Got through after about 20 minutes on hold and they confirmed my appeal is "under review" but couldn't give me a timeline. I've also started documenting everything in a folder like others suggested - screenshots of my original application, the denial letter, my appeal submission, and records of every phone call. For anyone else struggling financially while waiting, I found that my local Catholic Charities has an emergency assistance program that doesn't require you to be Catholic - they helped with a grocery gift card and information about utility assistance programs. The uncertainty is definitely the hardest part, but this community has given me hope that there's light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and resources!

I'm currently at week 5 of waiting for my appeal hearing after being denied for "misconduct" when I was actually terminated for refusing to work in unsafe conditions during a COVID outbreak at my workplace. The stress is overwhelming - I've been surviving on savings that are almost depleted and borrowing money from family. Thank you all for sharing the appeal line number (518-402-0205) - I called this morning at 8 AM and actually got through after 30 minutes on hold! They told me my case is "pending scheduling" and that they're currently booking hearings for appeals filed 8-10 weeks ago, so I'm looking at least another 3-5 weeks. I've been keeping detailed records like others suggested, including photos of the unsafe working conditions and text messages from my supervisor. For anyone else struggling with basic needs while waiting, I discovered that the Salvation Army has an emergency assistance program that can help with utilities and rent - you just need to bring your appeal documentation. Also wanted to mention that I've been attending a virtual support group through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) because this whole process has really affected my mental health. It's free and they meet twice a week online. This thread has been a lifesaver for practical advice and knowing I'm not going through this nightmare alone. Stay strong everyone!

As someone who just joined this community, I have to say this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! Reading through everyone's experiences with NY unemployment filing really highlights how important it is to have knowledgeable people willing to share what they've learned the hard way. The original poster's situation resonates with me because I think many of us would make that same mistake - assuming we'll find work quickly and not wanting to "burden the system" if we don't really need it. But it's clear from everyone's responses that unemployment benefits exist for exactly these situations, and there's no shame in using them when you're eligible. What really stands out to me is how this community provided both practical information (the 4-week backdating rule, good cause requirements, weekly certification reminders) AND emotional support throughout the process. The follow-up showing that 3 out of 6 weeks got approved proves that even when you make mistakes, acting quickly based on good advice can still salvage a difficult situation. For anyone else who might stumble across this thread in the future: don't wait! File immediately, be honest about why you delayed, and make sure to certify every single week going forward. This community has created a really valuable resource here.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! Reading through everyone's experiences with NY unemployment filing has been incredibly educational. The original poster's situation is so relatable - I think many of us would assume we'd find work quickly and hesitate to file for benefits. What amazes me most is how this community provided not just technical guidance about backdating rules and filing procedures, but genuine support throughout the entire process. Seeing the follow-up that 3 out of 6 weeks got approved gives me hope that even when mistakes are made, acting on good advice can still make a meaningful difference. The key takeaways are crystal clear: file immediately when unemployed, understand that NY allows up to 4 weeks of backdating with good cause, keep detailed job search records, and never miss weekly certifications. This thread should be required reading for anyone navigating NY's unemployment system! Thanks to everyone who shared their hard-earned wisdom here - communities like this make such a difference during challenging times.

One thing to add - make sure you understand the difference between "accepting" a job offer and actually starting work. I learned the hard way that you can accept an offer on Monday but if you don't start until the following week, you're still unemployed for that entire week and should file your claim. The key date is when you actually begin working and earning wages, not when you shake hands on the deal. Also, keep all your paperwork (offer letter, start date confirmation, etc.) in case NYS Department of Labor ever needs to verify your timeline.

Just to add another perspective - I went through this transition last year and one thing that really helped was calling NYS Department of Labor the day before I started my new job to confirm I was handling everything correctly. The agent walked me through exactly how to file my final partial week claim and made sure I understood the reporting requirements. Even though the wait time was long, it gave me peace of mind knowing I was doing everything by the book. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities and any work you do - NYS Department of Labor can request this information during audits, and having everything documented makes the process much smoother if they ever need to review your case.

good for you for trying to better yourself! the job market sucks right now so might as well use the time to learn something new

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and here's what I learned: You absolutely need to contact your local One-Stop Career Center BEFORE enrolling in any classes. They can help determine if you qualify for programs like WIOA or TAA that will actually pay for your training. I ended up getting approved for a web development bootcamp that was 100% covered, and I was able to continue receiving UI benefits throughout the program. The key is getting the proper approval first - don't just enroll and hope for the best. Each local office has slightly different procedures, so definitely go in person if you can rather than trying to navigate this over the phone.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too! Filed my claim about 5 days ago after being laid off from a retail company that closed our location, and predictably they've been completely unreachable since the store closure. It's actually such a relief to find this thread and see how many people have successfully navigated this same scenario. The 3-4 week timeline everyone keeps mentioning is really helpful for setting realistic expectations instead of obsessively checking my claim status every day. I immediately started filing weekly claims after reading all the advice here - thank goodness I found this before making the mistake of waiting for approval first! I have my termination letter that clearly states the reason as "store closure due to corporate restructuring" so hopefully that documentation will be sufficient. It's honestly mind-boggling how these companies can just disappear and ignore their legal obligations, but it sounds like NYS DOL has this scenario down to a science at this point. Thanks so much for starting this discussion - it's been invaluable for my peace of mind!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my unemployment claim about 2 weeks ago after getting laid off from a consulting firm that basically went dark after they eliminated half their staff. Just like everyone else here, my former employer has been completely unresponsive to all attempts at communication since the layoffs happened. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly reassuring - the consistent 3-4 week timeline everyone keeps mentioning gives me realistic expectations instead of constantly refreshing my claim status. I've been diligently filing my weekly claims based on all the advice in this thread (almost made the mistake of waiting for approval first!). I have all my termination documentation saved including the official notice that clearly states "position elimination due to organizational restructuring." It's honestly frustrating how these companies can just abandon their legal obligations, but it sounds like NYS DOL has robust processes for dealing with non-responsive employers. This thread has been a lifesaver for understanding what to expect and managing the stress of this whole process. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know so many others have successfully navigated this same scenario!