just apply anyway, even if its not a ton of money its better than nothing and you paid into the system through your payroll taxes so you earned it

I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from my retail job. With your $18/hour wage, you should definitely apply - I was making similar and ended up getting around $380 per week. The application process can be frustrating but it's worth it. Make sure you have all your recent pay stubs ready and apply as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting period. Also start your job search right away since you have to show you're actively looking for work to keep getting benefits. The money definitely helped me cover rent and groceries while I found something new.

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! This is such a perfect example of why the NY unemployment system is so confusing - there are these edge cases that aren't clearly explained on the website. Your situation shows exactly why sometimes you just HAVE to talk to an actual person instead of trying to figure it out online. Really glad that calling service worked for you and thanks for sharing the update. This thread will definitely help other people who find themselves in the same boat!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation where I'm approaching the end of my 26 weeks but still have about 6 months left in my benefit year. Reading through all the responses here, it sounds like the key thing is whether you worked during your benefit year and earned enough to qualify for a new claim. @872b58869e00 your breakdown of the three scenarios is super clear - way better than anything I've found on the official NYSDOL website. And @33c9af4fbe1c congrats on getting it resolved! It's encouraging to hear that the Claimyr service actually works since I've been dreading having to call and wait on hold for hours. One question for anyone who might know - if you do qualify for a new claim within your benefit year, does it reset your 26-week counter or do you still only get whatever weeks were remaining from your original benefit year?

I actually called the NY DOL office directly when I had this same question a few weeks ago (after waiting on hold for about 45 minutes!). The representative confirmed it's your Social Security Number and explained that they use "identification number" as generic terminology across different government forms. She also mentioned that if you accidentally enter it with dashes or spaces, the system will usually still process it correctly, but it's best practice to just use the 9 digits as everyone else mentioned. One thing that helped me was double-checking the number against my Social Security card before submitting - just to avoid any typos that could delay processing.

I went through this exact same confusion when I filed my claim earlier this year! The NY DOL really needs to update their website language because "identification number" is so vague. It's definitely your Social Security Number - just the 9 digits without any dashes or spaces. I remember stressing about this too, but once you enter your SSN correctly, the rest of the application flows much smoother. One tip: have your most recent W-2 or pay stub ready because you'll need employment information in the next steps. Don't worry, you're almost through the hardest part of getting your claim started!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm literally in the exact same situation - just got hired on Tuesday and have my career advisor meeting scheduled for next Monday. I was completely planning to skip it since I figured "why bother now that I have a job?" but reading everyone's experiences has totally changed my perspective. The consistency is incredible - every single person who actually attended had a quick 15-20 minute positive experience where they properly closed their case, while the people who skipped ended up dealing with appeals, overpayment notices, and months of stress. When you put it that way, it's such an obvious choice! What really helped ease my anxiety was reading how these advisors are actually excited to hear success stories. I was worried it would be awkward showing up employed, but it sounds like they're totally used to this situation and genuinely happy when people find work. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences instead of just guessing - this community is amazing! Sometimes spending 20 minutes to do things properly is totally worth avoiding potential headaches later. Definitely attending my meeting and handling this the right way. Congrats to OP and everyone else who found work! 🎉

This thread is amazing! I'm in literally the exact same situation - just accepted a job offer on Wednesday and have my career advisor meeting this coming Tuesday. I was 100% planning to ghost it thinking "I'm employed now, what do they need from me?" but wow, reading everyone's experiences here has completely flipped my perspective. The pattern is SO consistent it's almost scary - every single person who actually showed up had a super quick positive experience (like 15-20 mins max) where they filled out a simple form, got congratulated, and had their case properly closed. Meanwhile everyone who skipped ended up in appeals hell dealing with overpayment notices for literal months. What really changed my mind was realizing this isn't just about being polite - it's about protecting the benefits I already received. Makes total sense that they want to officially close things out rather than just having people disappear from the system. Also love hearing that these advisors are actually excited about success stories! I was dreading it being awkward but sounds like they're totally used to this situation and genuinely happy when people find work. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences instead of just speculation - this community is incredible! Definitely going to my meeting and handling this properly. Sometimes doing the "boring responsible thing" is totally worth 20 minutes to avoid months of potential drama. Congrats OP on the new job! 🎉

I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now! Got laid off in November and have been on UI, and just got word that my workers comp case from a back injury at my old job in 2021 is settling for about $15K. Reading through these responses has been super helpful - sounds like the consensus is that since it's from a different employer and time period, it shouldn't affect benefits as long as you report it properly. I'm planning to use the wording suggestions here when I file my weekly claim. It's such a relief to see others have gone through this without issues. The NYS system is confusing enough without having to worry about losing benefits over something that's completely unrelated to your current claim!

I'm dealing with something similar but from a different angle. I received a workers comp settlement about 6 months ago while on unemployment (different employer, injury from 2020) and reported it exactly as everyone here is suggesting. No issues whatsoever with my benefits. The NYS Department of Labor didn't even follow up about it. What I learned from talking to a rep is that they're really looking for current wages or income that would indicate you're working while claiming benefits. Settlements for past injuries are treated completely separately. Just make sure you report it in the week you receive the actual payment, not when you sign the settlement agreement. The timing of reporting matters for their records.