Sofia, I went through something very similar! I was laid off due to company restructuring and waited almost a month before applying because I thought I needed to find another job first. Big mistake! Like others have said, you qualify for benefits from the day you were laid off due to budget cuts. When I finally applied, they were able to backdate my claim to my separation date, so I didn't lose those weeks completely. The online application at my.ny.gov is pretty straightforward - just have your employer information, dates of employment, and reason for separation ready. One tip: start documenting your job search activities now if you haven't been keeping track. Even though they can backdate the monetary eligibility, you'll need to show ongoing work search efforts going forward. Don't beat yourself up about the delay - just get that application started today!

Sofia, you've gotten great advice here! I just wanted to add that when you file your claim on my.ny.gov, make sure you have all your employment information ready - your employer's name and address, your dates of employment, your gross wages from your last few quarters, and the specific reason for separation (budget cuts/layoff). The system will ask for detailed information about your work history. Also, once you start receiving benefits, you'll need to certify weekly online - this is where you'll report your job search activities and any work or income you had that week. Set a reminder for yourself to do this every week because missing a certification can delay your payments. Don't let the initial wait time discourage you either - it can take 2-3 weeks to process, but you'll get paid retroactively once approved. You've got this!

My cousin quit her job last month because her employer kept changing her shift times with no notice and she couldn't arrange childcare. She's going through the adjudication process now but her case worker told her that sudden schedule changes without reasonable notice can sometimes qualify as good cause, especially if you have dependent care responsibilities. Every situation is different though so definitely don't quit without talking to someone first.

I went through something similar with a retail job where management was making my work environment unbearable. One thing that really helped my case was keeping a detailed log of every incident - dates, times, witnesses present, and exactly what was said or done. I also saved all communications (texts, emails, schedule changes) and took photos of any written notices or schedules they posted. When I finally quit and applied for UI, having that documentation made all the difference. The adjudicator could see a clear pattern of problematic behavior from my employer. Also, make sure you exhaust all internal options first - file complaints with HR in writing (not just verbal), follow your company's grievance procedure if they have one, and keep copies of everything. NYS Department of Labor really wants to see that you tried to resolve things before quitting. It's frustrating but worth doing if you want the best shot at getting benefits approved.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now too. Been unemployed for about 3 months and desperately need to access my 401k. Reading through all these responses is really reassuring - it sounds like NYS Department of Labor treats retirement withdrawals differently than regular income, which makes sense since it's money we already earned and saved. I'm still nervous about doing anything that might mess up my benefits though. Has anyone here ever had NYS DOL question them about a 401k withdrawal during their weekly certification calls, or do they really just ignore it completely? I know they ask about any work or income each week, so I want to make sure I'm answering those questions correctly when I do withdraw the money.

I went through this same situation about 4 months ago when my unemployment benefits weren't covering all my expenses. I was really worried about withdrawing from my 401k because I didn't want to jeopardize my claim, but after doing some research and talking to others who had been through it, I learned that NYS Department of Labor doesn't consider 401k withdrawals as reportable income. I ended up withdrawing $9,000 and continued receiving my full weekly benefits without any issues. The withdrawal never came up during my weekly certifications, and I never had to report it to NYS DOL. Just be prepared for the tax consequences - I had to pay the 10% early withdrawal penalty plus regular income taxes on the amount, which was pretty painful when tax season came around. But if you need the money to survive while job searching, it shouldn't affect your unemployment benefits at all. Make sure to keep all your paperwork though, just in case you ever need to provide documentation.

Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like you should be in good shape since you worked full-time in early 2024. Just to add some clarity - the key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor needs to see wages in at least 2 different quarters within your base period, and those wages need to total at least $2,600. Since you mentioned working part-time through 2023 and then full-time starting early 2024, you likely have wages spread across multiple quarters which should help you meet both requirements. The system will automatically check both base periods for you, so you don't need to request the alternate base period - it happens behind the scenes if needed.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process recently. One thing that helped me was calling the automated system at 1-888-209-8124 during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening) to check my benefit year and base period dates. It's way faster than trying to get through to a live agent, and it gives you the exact quarters they're using for your claim. You can also press different options to hear your total wages for each quarter, which helps you verify if you meet the requirements without having to log into the website.

Same boat here - had to close my photography business last year and couldn't get any unemployment. Ended up having to take a retail job just to qualify for benefits if I ever get laid off again. It's backwards but that's how the system works.

Have you considered looking into New York State's other assistance programs while you're figuring out the unemployment situation? The Department of Social Services has programs like SNAP (food assistance) and emergency cash assistance that might help bridge the gap. Also, if you're planning to shut down the LLC, you might want to consult with an accountant about any tax implications - sometimes there are deductions or loss carryforwards that can help reduce your tax burden. It's not unemployment benefits, but every bit helps when cash flow is tight.