Have you considered gig work to tide you over? Stuff like Uber, DoorDash, etc. It's not ideal but it could help bridge the gap while you're looking for something more permanent.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 24 weeks in and getting really anxious about what happens next. One thing I found that might help is checking if you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade or outsourcing. It can extend benefits and provide retraining funds. Also, some people don't know about the Work Sharing Program - if you find part-time work, you might still be able to collect partial benefits. Definitely worth looking into! Stay strong, we're all in this together 💪

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm feeling much less panicked now. I've collected my bank statements showing the deposits, found some old work emails in my archive, and I reached out to my former supervisor who agreed to write a statement. I'm also requesting my tax transcript from the IRS today. Will try calling DOL tomorrow to explain my situation and see if they can add notes to my file. I'll update once I hear back from them.

I went through something similar when my employer went out of business during COVID. Here's what worked for me: I gathered everything I could find (bank statements, old performance reviews, even a company holiday party photo showing me at work) and submitted it all with a detailed cover letter explaining the situation. The key is to be proactive and honest. I also found my state unemployment insurance wage base report online - you can usually access this through your state's labor department website. It shows all the wages reported by your employers and is considered official documentation. Don't panic! As long as you respond by the deadline and show good faith effort to provide what you can, they're usually reasonable about accepting alternative documentation. The worst thing you can do is ignore it completely.

I had major issues getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to clarify my eligibility status. The phone lines are constantly busy and I kept getting disconnected. Someone here recommended using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to help get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. It was a lifesaver for getting my questions answered about mixed employment situations.

The whole system is frustrating honestly. Self-employed people pay taxes but can't get the same safety net as regular employees. At least now there's more gig work that provides W-2s so maybe that helps with future eligibility.

make sure u keep track of your payroll records from day 1. nys dept of labor will want quarterly reports and if ur missing documentation they can audit u. learned this the hard way when i forgot to file my first quarter report on time

Just want to add that when you register online, make sure you have your business formation documents ready too (like your Articles of Incorporation or LLC filing). They might ask for your NAICS code as well - for landscaping that's usually 561730. Also, once you get your unemployment insurance account number, you'll need to start filing quarterly wage reports even if you haven't hired anyone yet (you'd just report $0 wages). The deadlines are pretty strict so set up calendar reminders!

I'm glad you're going to appeal! Just wanted to update that my appeal took about 5 weeks from filing to getting a decision. It was stressful waiting, but worth it in the end. Make sure you submit your appeal request through your NY.gov account and keep checking for updates or requests for additional information. For the Partial Unemployment question - it's for people who are working reduced hours (less than 4 days and earning less than $594 per week in 2025). It wouldn't apply if you're completely unemployed, but it's useful for people with very part-time work. Good luck with your appeal! Let us know how it goes.

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who went through a similar situation last year. The fact that you were able to get through to someone via social media messaging is actually huge - that alone shows persistence that will help you in the appeal process. One thing I'd suggest is requesting your "Statement of Claimant Account" (it's in your NY.gov portal) which shows exactly what wages they have on file for each quarter. Sometimes employers don't report wages correctly or there are delays in the system. I found out one of my employers had reported my wages to the wrong quarter, which threw off my entire calculation. Also, don't let that agent's vague answer discourage you. Many of the phone reps aren't fully trained on the specific monetary requirements and will give incomplete information. The appeals officers are much more knowledgeable and will actually calculate your eligibility properly. Given that your total earnings and highest quarter amounts seem to meet the basic requirements that others have mentioned, there's likely something else going on that an appeal can resolve. Definitely worth the effort!