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.

Just wanted to add that if you do qualify based on W-2 wages, you'll still need to be available and actively seeking work to maintain eligibility. The tricky part with having your own business is that NYS DOL might consider you "not available for work" if you're still operating your consulting business, even if it's slow. You may need to show that you're genuinely looking for employee positions and not just waiting for consulting work to pick back up. It's worth discussing this specific situation with a DOL representative to understand how they handle cases where someone has both self-employment and employee work history.

Just went through this myself a few months ago! When my employer closed down suddenly, I was in the same boat - no W2s, couldn't get paystubs, the whole place just vanished. What ended up working for me was submitting a "document unavailable affidavit" along with whatever alternative proof I could gather. I wrote a sworn statement explaining that my employer shut down operations, included the business closure date if I could find it online, and listed every attempt I made to get the standard documents (calling old phone numbers, checking business registry websites, etc.). Then I attached my bank statements showing direct deposits, some old email exchanges with my manager about work stuff, and even a LinkedIn screenshot showing I had listed that company as my employer. The DOL case worker told me they see this situation ALL the time, especially with small businesses that close suddenly. As long as you submit SOMETHING by their deadline and can show the deposits in your bank account, you should be fine. The worst thing is not responding at all. You've got plenty of options based on what everyone else suggested too - definitely try multiple approaches!

Another option that helped me when I was in a similar spot - check if you have any old social media posts that mention your job! I found a Facebook post where I complained about having to work late at that company, and another one where I posted about getting the job initially. Screenshots of those posts with the timestamps visible actually helped establish my employment timeline. Also, if you ever used any company equipment or software, check if you have old login credentials saved in your browser or password manager - even something like a saved login for a company portal can show you had legitimate access as an employee. The more creative you get with gathering evidence, the stronger your case becomes!

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!

One more tip that helped me when I registered my painting business - after you submit your online application, you'll get a confirmation email with a temporary reference number. Keep that handy because if you need to call NYS Department of Labor for any reason, they'll ask for it. Also, once you're approved and get your official unemployment insurance account number, make sure to save it somewhere secure - you'll need it for all your quarterly filings and any future correspondence with the state. The whole process took about 3-4 business days for me to get the official account number after submitting online.

Just want to echo what others have said about keeping detailed records! I've been working part-time (about 18 hours over 3 days) while collecting UI for the past two months and it's been working great. The weekly certification is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it - just answer honestly about days worked and total earnings. One thing that helped me was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and pay each week before I do my certification. Also, don't stress too much about the "fraud" concern - as long as you're reporting everything accurately, you're doing exactly what the system is designed for. The part-time work has actually been a confidence booster while I'm job hunting for full-time positions. Good luck with the new opportunity!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also be aware of how your part-time earnings might affect your total benefit year amount. While the weekly calculations are important, NY also tracks your total benefits paid out over the year. If you're earning decent part-time income, you might extend how long your benefits last since you're drawing less each week. I've been doing freelance graphic design (usually 2-3 days a week) while on UI and it's actually helped me build up my portfolio for when I land a full-time position. Just make sure when you report your work that you're clear about whether it's W2 employment or 1099 contract work - they handle those slightly differently in terms of what documentation they might want later.

I've been through this exact situation multiple times with Chase! Once NY unemployment shows "released" status, Chase typically processes the ACH deposit overnight and you'll see it in your account within 24-48 hours. Since yours was released today, there's a really good chance you'll wake up tomorrow morning and it'll be there - Chase usually posts these around 6 AM. I always recommend setting up mobile banking alerts so you get notified the instant it hits rather than constantly checking your app. The waiting is brutal when you need the money, but once it says released, you're basically home free. Just gotta let the banking system do its thing! Keep us posted when it comes through! 💪

Just wanted to chime in as another Chase customer! I've been getting NY unemployment for about 6 months now and the timing is pretty consistent. Once it shows "released" on the DOL website, it almost always hits my Chase account the next business day around 5-7 AM. I think Chase processes unemployment deposits faster than some other banks because they're such a high volume. Since yours was released today, I'd bet money it'll be there when you wake up tomorrow! The first time I was stressed about it too, but now I just expect it the morning after release. Pro tip: if you have the Chase mobile app, enable push notifications for deposits over a certain amount - saves you from obsessively checking!