If you're having trouble getting through to the right people about PFL or need to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor about any related questions, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. I used it when I couldn't get through on my own and it was way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

Just wanted to add that you should also check if your employer contributes to New York State Disability Benefits (DBL) - this can provide partial wage replacement for the period when you're physically unable to work due to childbirth (usually around 6-8 weeks). It works alongside PFL, so you might be able to get DBL for the immediate recovery period and then transition to PFL for bonding time. Your employer's HR or payroll department should be able to tell you if they participate in the DBL program.

The work authorization requirement is federal law, not just a New York thing. Even though your friend has been contributing through payroll taxes, the Social Security Administration and Department of Labor systems are connected to immigration databases. When NYS Department of Labor processes a claim, they verify work eligibility through these federal systems. If you're having trouble reaching someone at NYS Department of Labor to get official confirmation, I've heard people mention using claimyr.com to get through to an agent faster. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works.

I work with an immigration advocacy group and can confirm what others have said - undocumented workers cannot receive regular UI benefits in NY despite paying taxes. However, your friend should know about a few alternatives: 1) Some counties have emergency rental assistance that doesn't check immigration status, 2) Food pantries and community organizations often provide help without documentation requirements, 3) If they were injured on the job, workers' compensation doesn't require legal status verification. I'd suggest contacting the New York Immigration Coalition or Make the Road NY - they have resources specifically for situations like this and can connect your friend with local assistance programs.

My friend got unemployment when she quit because her boss was sexually harassing her. She had to prove it was for good cause but NYS Department of Labor approved her claim. Document everything if you decide to quit - emails, texts, schedule changes, anything that shows the working conditions became unreasonable.

Same thing happened to me except they cut me from full time to like 12 hours. I didn't know about partial benefits so I just suffered through it for months being broke all the time. wish someone had told me sooner!

just keep filing every week and eventually it works out. the system is slow but it does work eventually. took me about 3 weeks to get my first payment

I went through this same process about 6 months ago after getting laid off from my restaurant job. The waiting period is really nerve-wracking, especially when you're worried about bills! In my experience, it took about 2.5 weeks to get my monetary determination letter, and then I was able to receive my first payment the following week. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit right away in my online account - it made the payments come through faster than waiting for a debit card. Also, make sure you're checking your online account regularly for any correspondence or requests for additional information, because they don't always send email notifications. Hang in there, the process does work even though it feels slow when you're stressed about money.

Make sure you understand WHY you have an overpayment before paying anything back. Sometimes NYS Department of Labor makes mistakes in their calculations or doesn't account for proper deductions. I've seen people pay money they didn't actually owe because they didn't question the determination.

I just went through this same situation a few months ago! The payment coupon definitely means there's an overpayment they're saying you owe back. Before you panic though, carefully review the determination letter that should have come with or before the coupon - it will explain exactly why they think you were overpaid. In my case, it was because I didn't report some freelance income properly during my claim period. The good news is you have options: you can appeal if you disagree, set up a payment plan if you can't pay it all at once, or pay in full to avoid any interest. I'd recommend logging into your my.ny.gov account first to see if there are more details about the overpayment determination online.