I just went through this exact same situation in February and wanted to share what worked for me. After my UI benefits exhausted, I was panicking about rent too. Here's what helped me get through: 1. Applied for emergency rental assistance through my county's DSS office - got approved for 3 months of rent within 2 weeks 2. Started doing Uber Eats immediately while job hunting - not amazing money but helped with groceries and gas 3. Got connected to a local food pantry through 211 - saved me probably $200/week on groceries 4. Applied for LIHEAP (energy assistance) which covered my electric bill for several months The key thing is to apply for EVERYTHING at once, don't wait. Most assistance programs understand that people exhaust UI benefits and they're set up to help bridge that gap. Also, temp agencies can be surprisingly helpful right now - I got a 3-week assignment that turned into a permanent offer. I know it feels overwhelming but you're taking all the right steps by reaching out here and exploring options. The job market is tough but there are more safety nets available than most people realize. You've got this! 🙏

I'm new to this community but going through something similar - my benefits just ran out last week and I'm honestly terrified. Reading through everyone's responses here has been so helpful though! I had no idea about programs like 211, mutual aid groups, or that libraries have job search resources. One thing I wanted to add that helped me this week was reaching out to local churches and community centers, even if you're not religious. Many have emergency assistance funds or know about resources that aren't well advertised. The community center near me connected me with a local nonprofit that helps with utilities and groceries while people are between jobs. Also, @Luis Johnson - you mentioned documenting your job search, which is smart. I've been using a simple Google Doc to track applications, but I just learned that some workforce development programs give you points or priority for having detailed records of your search efforts. Might be worth organizing everything you've already done in case opportunities come up later. This thread has given me so much hope and practical steps to take. Thank you everyone for being so generous with your advice and experiences! 💙

Yes, there are separate penalties for late filing and late payment with NYS Department of Labor. Even if you file your quarterly report on time, you'll still face interest charges and penalties if you don't pay the taxes owed by the deadline. The interest rate is set by the state and compounds daily, so it adds up quickly. I learned this the hard way when I had a cash flow issue one quarter - filed on time but paid a week late and got hit with both interest and a penalty fee. It's worth setting up automatic payments or at least calendar reminders to avoid these extra costs.

For penalty specifics, NYS Department of Labor typically charges 1% per month for late payments (with a minimum penalty) plus daily compound interest that's adjusted periodically. The exact rates can change so check their current penalty schedule. As for automatic payments, you can set them up through the NY.gov online services portal once you have your employer account established - look for the "Online Services" section on the DOL website. You'll need your employer registration number to access it. I'd recommend calling them to confirm the current penalty structure since rates can shift annually, and having that direct confirmation helps with your budgeting planning.

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - apply immediately! I was fired for attendance issues about 4 months ago while caring for my mother who has dementia and kept having medical episodes that required emergency room visits. Like you, I couldn't always call before my shift started because I'd be rushing her to the hospital at 5 AM or dealing with a crisis situation. I was terrified that being fired would automatically disqualify me, but NYS Department of Labor approved my claim after about 5 weeks of review. The investigator was very understanding when I explained that caring for an elderly parent with dementia isn't something you can schedule around. What helped my case was keeping detailed records of every medical visit, saving screenshots of my texts to my supervisor, and being completely honest during the phone interview about the timeline of events. Even when I had to explain that sometimes I couldn't call until hours after my shift was supposed to start because I was in an ER waiting room, they understood that those were genuine emergency circumstances beyond my control. The relief when I got approved was incredible - it made such a difference while I was job searching and still managing my mom's care. Don't let fear keep you from applying for benefits you've earned!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was fired for attendance issues 2 months ago when my mom was going through chemo treatments and I had to take her to multiple appointments and deal with emergency hospitalizations. Like many of you, I was convinced that being fired meant automatic denial and almost didn't apply. But reading all these success stories gave me the courage to file my claim, and I just got approved last week after a 4-week investigation! The investigator was incredibly understanding when I explained the medical circumstances and reviewed all my documentation - appointment confirmations, hospital records, and text messages to my supervisor. What really helped was being completely honest about the timeline, including times when I couldn't call before my shift because we were in the ER dealing with chemo complications. To everyone still hesitating - please don't let fear stop you from applying! NYS Department of Labor really does evaluate each case individually, and caring for seriously ill family members is exactly the kind of legitimate circumstance they understand isn't misconduct. You've earned these benefits through your work contributions, and you deserve a fair review of your situation. File your claim today and keep all your medical documentation organized - you've got this!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check your wage history or get questions answered about your potential benefit amount, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Was worth it for me since I couldn't get through on my own after trying for days.

One more thing to consider - if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately even if you're getting severance pay. The waiting period starts from when you file, not when the severance runs out. I made the mistake of waiting until my severance ended and lost out on a week of benefits because of the mandatory waiting week. Also, severance typically won't affect your eligibility as long as you're genuinely unemployed and available for work.

I went through this same situation a few months ago - also got denied for "misconduct" when I was actually laid off due to company restructuring. I ended up hiring a lawyer and it was worth every penny. The attorney knew exactly what evidence to request from my former employer and how to present my case. We won the appeal and I got all my back benefits. If you're worried about cost, many lawyers will work on contingency for unemployment cases or offer payment plans. Don't let your employer's false misconduct claim stand - fight it!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this myself. One thing I learned is that NYS has legal aid organizations that offer free or low-cost help with unemployment appeals if you qualify based on income. The Legal Aid Society and some local bar associations have programs specifically for unemployment cases. Also, if you do decide to represent yourself, make sure to request all the documents your employer submitted with their misconduct claim - you have a right to see their evidence before the hearing. The fact that your termination letter mentions budget cuts should work strongly in your favor. Document everything and don't be afraid to ask the hearing officer to clarify anything you don't understand during the process.