Thanks everyone for the info! Sounds like I need to focus on the disability benefits route instead of unemployment. I'll check with my HR department tomorrow about what forms I need to fill out. Hopefully I can get something started soon because these bills aren't going to wait for me to heal up.

Just wanted to add that if your back injury happened at work (which it sounds like it did since you mentioned it was from your warehouse job), you should definitely look into filing a workers' compensation claim in addition to the disability benefits. Workers' comp can cover your medical expenses and provide wage replacement while you're recovering. You can file a workers' comp claim even if you're still technically employed. The process is separate from both unemployment and regular disability benefits, and since it was a work-related injury, you might be entitled to more comprehensive coverage. Your employer should have provided you with the necessary forms when you reported the injury.

I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits are set to expire in about 10 days and I've been scrambling to figure out my options. This thread has been absolutely incredible for getting real, actionable advice that I couldn't find anywhere else! I've been working in financial analysis for the past 5 years before getting laid off, and I'm seriously considering a cybersecurity certification program since that field seems to have so many openings right now. Has anyone successfully gotten the 599 extension approved for cybersecurity training? I'm wondering if that would be considered a high-demand field for approval purposes. I'm planning to call that direct 599 line (518-457-9000, ext. 4500) first thing tomorrow morning at 8am with my documentation ready. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to have 2-3 backup training options researched just in case my first choice doesn't qualify. One thing I'm still unclear on - do I need to be enrolled and have a start date confirmed before I call, or can I discuss programs I'm still in the application process for? I've submitted applications to a couple programs but haven't heard back with acceptance letters yet. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences here - you've potentially saved me from a financial disaster!

I'm facing the exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My 26 weeks are ending in early April and I've been really stressed about what happens next. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to apply for the 599 training program. I've been looking into cloud computing certifications since that seems to be such a hot field right now. Does anyone know if AWS or Microsoft Azure certification programs typically get approved for the 599 extension? I have a background in IT support but want to move into cloud architecture roles. Planning to call that direct line (518-457-9000, ext. 4500) tomorrow morning at 8am sharp with all my documentation ready. I'm going to follow everyone's advice about having backup programs researched just in case. One question - for those who got approved, how detailed did your career justification letter need to be? I want to make sure I clearly explain how cloud certifications will help me advance in the tech field, but I'm not sure how much detail they're looking for. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world advice. This community discussion has been way more helpful than anything I found on the official government sites!

I'm 66 and went through this exact situation 18 months ago after being laid off from my accounting job of 25 years. The process was definitely confusing at first, but it's absolutely doable. A few things I learned that might help others: First, when you file your initial claim, NYS Department of Labor will send you a pension questionnaire (form IA 12.3) that you'll need to complete and return with documentation. Don't delay on this - it held up my benefits for an extra two weeks because I waited too long to send it back. Second, they calculate the reduction based on a weekly amount, so if you receive your pension monthly, they'll divide it by 4.33 to get the weekly figure. Third, even though my unemployment got reduced from $380 to $125 per week due to my pension, I was still eligible for the maximum 26 weeks of benefits. The reduced amount still helped significantly with my mortgage and utilities while I job searched. I eventually found part-time consulting work that worked perfectly with my semi-retirement goals. Don't let the reduction discourage you from filing - every bit helps during a job transition at our age!

I'm 63 and just got notice that my position will be eliminated in 6 weeks after 19 years with my current employer. This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences! I'm eligible for my pension immediately and was planning to file for unemployment as well. Based on what I've read here, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Get detailed documentation from HR showing employer vs employee pension contributions before I leave, 2) Be completely transparent on the initial unemployment filing about my pension plans, 3) Expect a 3-4 week delay while they review pension documentation, and 4) Be prepared for my unemployment to be reduced by the employer-contributed portion of my pension. Even with the reduction, having some income while job searching seems worth it. Has anyone dealt with this situation when you have advance notice of the layoff? I'm wondering if I should start gathering pension paperwork now or wait until after my last day of work to begin the process.

I'm a freelance web developer who's been successfully balancing unemployment benefits with freelance work for about 5 months now. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of understanding how quarterly earnings reviews work. NYS Department of Labor will periodically review your total earnings over a quarter, and if your average weekly freelance income consistently approaches or exceeds your weekly benefit amount, they may determine you're no longer "unemployed" even if you're reporting everything correctly. This happened to a friend of mine who was earning just under the weekly threshold each week, but over 3 months it added up to significant income. The key is to think long-term, not just week-to-week. Also, I'd recommend keeping a backup fund from your freelance earnings because there can sometimes be delays in benefit payments when you're reporting variable income - having a small cushion helps avoid financial stress during those gaps. One more tip: if you're doing ongoing work for the same client (like maintaining a website), make sure you're not accidentally creating an employer-employee relationship, which could affect your unemployment status differently than true freelance work.

I've been freelancing as a UX designer while on unemployment for about 3 months and wanted to add a few practical tips that have really helped me. First, I always send clients a brief project summary email after we agree on work - it doesn't need to be a formal contract, but having the scope, timeline, and payment terms in writing has saved me multiple times when unemployment office requested documentation. Second, I learned to be very conservative with my time estimates when deciding whether to take on projects. What seems like a 20-hour project often becomes 30+ hours when you factor in revisions, client calls, and administrative time. Since NYS tracks both hours and earnings, it's better to underestimate your availability than to accidentally exceed the 30-hour weekly limit. Finally, I keep a running tally of my quarterly freelance earnings on my tracking spreadsheet - this helps me see the bigger picture that Malik mentioned about quarterly reviews. If I notice I'm consistently earning close to my weekly benefit amount, I can be more selective about future projects to avoid triggering a review. The mental shift from "maximizing income" to "optimizing for long-term benefit eligibility" took some getting used to, but it's been crucial for maintaining my benefits while building freelance experience.

Also remember you can collect for up to 26 weeks in NY (longer if there are extensions), and you need to do the weekly job search requirements. Make sure you keep track of your job applications because they can ask for proof at any time.

Just wanted to add that if you're in marketing like Wesley, you might want to look into freelance or contract work while collecting benefits. In NY, you can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit rate without it affecting your unemployment payments. So with a $504 weekly benefit, you could earn about $126 per week from side work. This can help bridge the gap financially while you're job hunting. Just make sure to report any earnings when you do your weekly certification.