This thread has been incredibly reassuring! I'm currently on unemployment and my mom in Mexico has been dealing with some serious respiratory issues. I was absolutely terrified that if I needed to go help care for her, I'd lose my benefits entirely. Reading through everyone's experiences - it's amazing how many people have successfully handled international family medical emergencies by following the proper process with NYS DOL. The consistent pattern of calling ahead, being completely transparent, having medical documentation ready, and requesting official claim suspension (rather than trying to file weekly while away) seems to be the key. What really gives me confidence is seeing how understanding the representatives have been when people are honest about legitimate family health crises. I'm definitely going to start gathering documentation from her doctors now so I'm prepared if her condition worsens. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal stories during what were obviously very difficult times - knowing there's a compassionate process in place takes so much stress off an already overwhelming situation.

Wow, this thread has been absolutely life-changing for me! I had no idea NYS DOL had provisions for family emergencies like this. My sister in Montreal just got diagnosed with cancer and I've been panicking about potentially having to choose between being there for her during treatment and keeping my unemployment benefits. Reading everyone's real experiences has shown me there's actually a proper, compassionate process in place. The consistent advice about calling NYS DOL immediately, being completely honest about the medical emergency, having all documentation ready (hospital info, doctor's notes, etc.), and requesting an official temporary claim suspension rather than trying to file weekly while unavailable for work in NY makes perfect sense. It's incredibly reassuring to see so many successful examples of people who handled similar international family medical situations without losing their benefits or facing penalties. I'm going to start gathering her medical records and oncology team contact information right away so I'm prepared to call NYS DOL as soon as we have a clearer treatment timeline. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal stories during such difficult times - this community knowledge is absolutely invaluable when you're already dealing with unemployment stress and family health crises. You've all given me hope that I can be there for my sister without destroying my financial safety net.

I just wanted to share another method that worked for me when I couldn't find my account number anywhere - if you have the NYS DOL mobile app installed, sometimes the account information shows up more clearly there than on the desktop website. The app interface is a bit different and might display your account details in a more obvious spot. Also, if you received any automated phone calls from NYS DOL after filing your claim, they sometimes include your account number in the voicemail message. I know it's frustrating when such an important piece of information seems to disappear, but don't give up! Between all the suggestions everyone has shared here, you should be able to track it down. The system definitely needs better user experience design - having your account number prominently displayed on the main dashboard would save everyone so much hassle!

I had this exact same problem a couple months back and it was so stressful! After trying all the usual places (email, my.ny.gov dashboard, etc.), what finally worked for me was calling the automated phone system at 1-888-581-5812 and following the prompts for "claim information." Even though I didn't have my account number to enter initially, there's an option to use your SSN and date of birth instead, and then the system actually reads your account number back to you before proceeding. It's kind of buried in the menu options, but if you listen carefully to all the prompts, you'll find it. Also, once I got my account number this way, I immediately saved it in three different places - my phone notes, a screenshot, and wrote it on a sticky note by my computer. The NY unemployment system is definitely not intuitive, but don't panic about deadlines - they're usually pretty understanding if you explain you had trouble accessing your account info. Hope this helps!

I'm in a similar situation but haven't filed yet because I wasn't sure if the overpayment would block me. This thread is super helpful! One thing I'm wondering about - if they take 25-30% from each payment, does that percentage stay the same until the overpayment is paid off, or do they adjust it based on how much you still owe? Also, has anyone had luck setting up a separate repayment plan so they don't have to take as much from your weekly benefits?

I'm dealing with a similar overpayment situation right now - about $1,900 from 2022 that I'm still paying back through weekly deductions. Just wanted to add that when you do file your new claim, make sure to report ANY income accurately, even small amounts from odd jobs or gig work. That's how a lot of these overpayments happen - people forget to report something or don't realize certain income counts. The good news is that once you're in the system paying back the overpayment, they usually don't hit you with penalties or interest as long as you keep filing honestly. Also, keep copies of everything - your weekly certifications, any correspondence from DOL, etc. It helps if there are ever questions later.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help others in similar situations. When I had to file for unemployment after being at a job for only 10 weeks, I discovered that NYS DOL has a benefit calculator on their website that can give you an estimate of what you might qualify for based on your work history. It's not 100% accurate, but it helped me understand whether it was worth filing before I went through the whole process. Also, I found that keeping a simple spreadsheet with dates, hours worked, and pay amounts made filing much easier when I had to report my earnings history. The partial unemployment option that others mentioned here is really valuable - I wish more people knew about it because so many employers seem to be cutting hours instead of laying people off these days. Your two years of previous work experience should definitely put you in a good position if you need to file.

I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago - got hired at a new job and within 5 weeks they started cutting everyone's hours due to "budget constraints." I was panicking because I thought you needed to work somewhere for at least 6 months to qualify for unemployment. Turns out I was completely wrong! Like others have mentioned, NYS looks at your entire work history during the base period, not just your current job. My previous job of 18 months was more than enough to meet the wage requirements. What really surprised me was learning about partial unemployment benefits - I had no idea you could collect while still working reduced hours. I ended up filing and it made a huge difference in keeping me afloat while I looked for something more stable. The key thing I learned is to apply sooner rather than later if your situation deteriorates, because there's usually a waiting period before benefits start. Don't let the complexity of the system discourage you from applying if you need help - your 2 years of previous work should definitely qualify you.

I just went through this exact same frustrating experience a few months ago! After trying everything mentioned here, what finally worked for me was a combination approach: First, I logged in on a desktop computer (not mobile - this is crucial!) and looked for a section called "Benefit Year Information" or "Claim Summary" - it's usually in the main navigation menu. From there, I found a link to "Download Forms" or "Request Documents" that wasn't visible on mobile. If you still can't find it, try going to your original confirmation emails from when you first applied - NY unemployment automatically sends a copy of your monetary determination as an attachment, but it might be buried in your spam folder. The subject line was something like "UI Benefits Approved - Monetary Determination." As a last resort, I ended up calling at exactly 8:01 AM on a Wednesday morning and actually got through after only 45 minutes on hold (try mid-week, not Monday or Friday). The rep was super helpful and emailed me the document immediately while I was still on the phone. Don't let your leasing office charge you late fees over this - most are understanding about unemployment documentation issues if you explain the situation and show you're actively trying to get it!

I just went through this EXACT same nightmare two weeks ago! After spending literally 4 hours searching their terrible website, here's what finally worked: Log into your account on a DESKTOP computer (not mobile - super important!), then look for a section called "Online Services" in the main menu. From there, click "Unemployment Insurance Services" and then look for "View/Print Determination Letters" - it should be under a submenu called "Forms and Documents." The link is tiny and easy to miss, but that's where they moved all the award letters after their recent website update. If you still can't find it, try going to your email and searching for "monetary determination" - they usually send an automatic copy when you first get approved, but it might be in your spam folder. As a backup plan, most landlords will accept your payment history printout if you explain the situation - I had to do this for my lease renewal and they were totally understanding once I showed them I was actively trying to get the official document. Don't let them charge you late fees over NY unemployment's terrible website design! You've got this! 💪