I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits exhausted about 5 weeks ago and I've been really struggling to figure out what options are available. The hospitality industry has been so unpredictable since the pandemic and finding management positions that pay decently has been incredibly challenging. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the Shared Work Program or the One-Stop Career Centers. I'm definitely going to try filing a new claim online first to see if I qualify for anything, even if it's a reduced amount. The Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth trying too since I've had zero luck getting through on the phone lines. It's really frustrating that when your benefits exhaust, you're basically left in the dark about what resources might still be available. Thank you for starting this conversation - it's been more informative than anything I've been able to find on the official websites. Hoping we all find some solutions soon!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - my benefits exhausted about 4 weeks ago and I've been completely overwhelmed trying to figure out what comes next. Like you, I've been keeping up with all my job search requirements and have everything documented, but the my.ny.gov portal just leaves you hanging with that "exhausted" status and no clear guidance. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about programs like the Shared Work Program or the One-Stop Career Centers that people are mentioning. It's honestly frustrating that this critical information isn't provided upfront when your benefits end. I think I'm going to follow the advice here and try filing a new claim online first to see if I qualify for anything, then reach out to my local One-Stop Career Center to explore other options. The hospitality industry has been so unpredictable - finding stable management positions that pay a living wage has been really tough. Thank you for posting this question - it's reassuring to know so many of us are navigating the same confusing process and that there are actually more resources available than the system makes obvious.

Just wanted to share my experience - I received my KeyBank debit card about 8 days after my first payment was issued. One thing to note is that the card comes in a plain white envelope from KeyBank, so it's easy to miss if you're not looking for it carefully. Also, make sure your address is correct in your my.ny.gov profile because that's where they'll mail it. I initially had an old address on file and had to update it before they could send a replacement card.

One thing I learned the hard way is to activate your KeyBank debit card as soon as you receive it! I waited a few days thinking I could activate it later, but then when I tried to use it at an ATM, it was declined. Had to call the activation number and they told me there's a time limit for activation after the card is mailed. Also, if you lose the card or it gets stolen, KeyBank will overnight a replacement for free, which is pretty convenient.

I completely understand the anxiety you're going through - I was in a similar situation a few months ago where I failed to report some gig work income while collecting benefits. After reading through everyone's responses here, I finally worked up the courage to contact NYS Department of Labor proactively. I owed about $3,200 and was terrified they'd pursue criminal charges, but it turned out to be much more manageable than I feared. They classified it as an overpayment, set up a reasonable payment plan, and the agent I spoke with was actually pretty understanding when I explained it was an honest mistake. The relief of finally addressing it head-on was worth the stress of making that initial call. Like others have said, being proactive really does seem to work in your favor - they appreciate when people come forward voluntarily rather than trying to hide it.

Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful - I was in a similar panic mode thinking I was going to end up in handcuffs over unemployment issues. What really stands out from everyone's stories is that the NYS Department of Labor seems to be much more reasonable than the horror stories make them sound, especially when you're dealing with smaller amounts and you approach them proactively. The consistency in everyone's experiences (overpayment vs fraud classification, payment plans, understanding agents) gives me confidence that they're not just trying to ruin people's lives over honest mistakes. For anyone else reading this who's in the same boat - it sounds like the fear and anxiety of avoiding the situation is way worse than actually dealing with it head-on.

File your claim today - don't wait another day! I made the same mistake of overthinking the timing when I got fired for "performance issues" that were really just my manager not liking me. NYS Department of Labor doesn't care about your personal feelings about the termination - they just need to determine if it was misconduct. Since you mentioned it was personality conflicts rather than something like theft or violence, you'll probably be fine after adjudication. The key is getting that claim date locked in ASAP so you don't lose any potential benefit weeks while they sort it out.

File immediately! I just went through this exact same situation last month - got fired for "performance issues" that were really just clashing with my supervisor's management style. I filed my claim the day after termination and I'm so glad I did. The NYS Department of Labor took about 3 weeks to adjudicate my case, but since I filed right away, I didn't lose any potential benefit weeks during that process. They ended up approving me because personality conflicts don't count as misconduct. The worst thing you can do is wait - every day you delay is a potential day of benefits lost. Go to labor.ny.gov right now and get that application started. You've got rent due next week so don't waste any more time second-guessing yourself!

I went through something very similar last year and can tell you from personal experience that jail time for unemployment fraud is extremely rare unless you're talking about massive, intentional schemes. I had made some reporting errors on my weekly certifications and was terrified when I got a notice from NYS DOL. Turned out I owed about $1,200 in overpayments, which they let me pay back over 8 months with no interest. The caseworker told me that 90% of their "fraud" cases are actually just honest mistakes or confusion about the rules. They're much more interested in recovering the money than prosecuting people who made genuine errors. The real criminal cases involve things like using fake social security numbers, claiming in multiple states simultaneously, or working full-time jobs while certifying for months. If you made good faith efforts to report correctly, you're almost certainly looking at repayment, not jail time.

I completely understand your fear - I was in the exact same position about six months ago when I realized I might have incorrectly reported some freelance work while collecting benefits. The anxiety was overwhelming and I couldn't sleep for weeks thinking I'd end up in handcuffs. After finally working up the courage to contact NYS DOL directly, I learned that I had an overpayment of about $650. They were actually very understanding when I explained it was an honest mistake about how to report irregular income. I'm now paying it back at $75 per month with no penalties since I came forward voluntarily. The representative told me that criminal referrals typically only happen when there's clear evidence of intentional deception - like people who never report work income at all while collecting full benefits, or cases involving identity theft. Your willingness to worry about this and seek advice actually shows you weren't trying to commit fraud. The relief I felt after that call was indescribable - sometimes our imagination of the consequences is so much worse than reality.