One thing to keep in mind is that while there's no age limit for collecting UI benefits, you still need to be "able and available" for work. This means if you have any health conditions that would prevent you from working, that could affect your eligibility - but that's true at any age. Also, since you mentioned you've been working since 16, you've definitely earned these benefits! Don't feel guilty about collecting what you've paid into. The warehouse experience you have is valuable, and many employers are looking for reliable workers with your kind of long-term work history. Keep documenting your job search efforts and you should be fine.

Just to echo what others have said - there's definitely no age limit on unemployment benefits in NY! I'm a retired HR manager and dealt with this question many times over the years. The only requirements are that you lost your job through no fault of your own, earned sufficient wages during your base period, and are actively looking for work. Your 50+ years of work history actually works in your favor - you've more than earned these benefits. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. The warehouse experience you have is really valuable right now with all the logistics and distribution growth. Keep your chin up and keep applying - the right opportunity will come along!

Hey Felicity! I completely understand that panic feeling - I've been in your exact shoes before and it's absolutely terrifying when you're already stressed about everything else. The good news is you're not out of luck at all! You can definitely still certify for last week. When you log into your NY DOL account, look for "Weekly Certification" or "Claim Weekly Benefits" - there should be a dropdown menu where you can select previous weeks that you haven't certified for yet. Sometimes you have to click around a bit because the website layout isn't the most intuitive, but the option is definitely there. You typically have until Saturday night to certify for the missed week, so you still have time to breathe! Your payment will be delayed by a few days compared to your usual schedule, but you won't lose the benefits for that week entirely - which was my biggest fear when this happened to me. If you can't find the right option online or run into any technical glitches, calling is your backup plan. The hold times are brutal, but the reps can help you certify over the phone once you finally get through. After you get this sorted out, I'd definitely recommend setting up multiple reminders! I learned my lesson the hard way and now have a phone alarm every Sunday plus a calendar notification. Being unemployed is stressful enough without having to be perfect with every deadline. Don't beat yourself up about this - we're all human and life happens. You're going to get through this! Let us know how it goes! 💙

Hey Felicity! I totally get that panic - missed my certification a couple months back and felt like my world was ending. The stress of unemployment already makes it hard to keep track of everything! Good news is you're not screwed! Log into your NY DOL account and look for "Weekly Certification" or "Claim Weekly Benefits" - should be a dropdown to select previous weeks. Sometimes it's buried in the menu, so don't give up if you don't see it immediately. You usually have until Saturday to certify for the missed week, so you've got time! Payment will be delayed a few days but you won't lose the week entirely. If the website gives you trouble, calling is worth it despite the awful hold times. The reps are usually understanding since this happens way more than you'd think. Pro tip: After you sort this out, set multiple reminders! I now have a Sunday phone alarm AND put a sticky note on my coffee maker. Sounds excessive but my stressed brain needs all the help it can get 😅 Don't beat yourself up - we're all just trying to survive this process. You've got this! 💪

I'm a new mom who went through this exact situation in NY just 8 months ago! Reading through all these responses brings back so many memories of the stress and confusion. I want to add one more piece of advice that really helped me: when you do get through to speak with someone at NYSDOL, ask them to put notes in your file about what they told you. Sometimes different representatives give conflicting information, and having official notes in your case file can prevent issues later if someone else reviews your claim. Also, I see people mentioning the Claimyr service - I used it too and it was a lifesaver. Just make sure when you do connect with an agent through any method that you clearly explain your situation as "my employer permanently filled my position while I was on approved medical leave" rather than leading with "I had a baby." The framing really matters for how they categorize your claim. One last thing - if you end up having to appeal a decision (hopefully you won't!), consider reaching out to your local legal aid society. Many have employment law volunteers who can help with unemployment appeals at no cost. You've got this, and congratulations on your little one! The bureaucracy is frustrating but you deserve these benefits.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! As a new mom myself (baby is 7 weeks old), I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed and helpful advice. I'm in a very similar situation - my employer hired someone permanent while I was on unpaid leave, and I've been so confused about whether I could qualify for unemployment benefits. Reading through all these experiences has been eye-opening. The key points I'm taking away are: 1) Frame it as "lack of work" since my position was eliminated, not as leaving for personal reasons, 2) Make sure I have medical clearance to work before filing, 3) Document everything including job applications and communications with my employer, and 4) Be persistent with the system whether calling early morning or using services like Claimyr. What really struck me is how many of us are dealing with the exact same situation but didn't know our rights. It's frustrating that this information isn't more readily available, especially when new parents are already overwhelmed. The fact sheet mentioned by Jay and the professional confirmation from Zara give me so much more confidence that this is a legitimate claim. I'm planning to file my application this week using all the strategies shared here. This community has turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into a manageable process with clear steps. Thank you all for being so generous with your time and knowledge - you're helping so many families during a really challenging time!

I've been dealing with this exact same status for the past week and was getting so anxious about what it meant! Reading through everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief. It sounds like "issue closed level 1" is basically the system's way of saying "we reviewed your claim, found no major problems, and cleared it for payment" - they just chose the most confusing possible way to word it. I had no idea what "level 1" meant either, but it makes sense that it indicates a straightforward review that didn't need escalation. Based on what everyone is sharing, it seems like 3-6 business days is pretty typical for payments to start processing after this status appears. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences - this is way more helpful than anything I could find on the official DOL site!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just saw "issue closed level 1" appear on my claim this morning and immediately started panicking thinking it meant my claim was denied or something. This thread is such a lifesaver - I had no idea this was actually good news! It's so frustrating that the NY DOL uses such confusing terminology. "Issue resolved" would be so much clearer than "closed." Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should expect to see my pending weekly certifications get released for payment within the next 3-6 business days. Thank you all for sharing your timelines and outcomes - this gives me so much peace of mind! I'll keep checking my account and hopefully have a positive update to share soon.

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this recently! Had the "determining benefits" status for exactly 12 days before getting approved. During that time I was checking the portal like 5 times a day lol. One thing I learned - they actually update the system overnight, so I found checking first thing in the morning was the best time to see any changes. Also got a text notification when my status finally updated to approved, so make sure you have notifications turned on! The waiting is definitely stressful but from what I've seen here and from my own experience, getting to the "determining benefits" stage is actually a really good sign. Hang in there! 💪

Just want to chime in as someone who recently went through this whole process! I was in "determining benefits" status for about 2 weeks and it was driving me crazy checking the portal every day. But I did get approved eventually! One thing that helped me was calling the DOL directly - took forever to get through but the agent was able to confirm that my application was progressing normally and that the status meant they were just calculating my benefit amount. She told me as long as I didn't get any requests for additional documents, it was likely going to be approved. Also want to echo what others said about having your employment docs ready just in case. I had my W2s and last few paystubs saved on my phone so I could upload them quickly if needed. The waiting absolutely sucks but try not to stress too much - sounds like you're in a good spot! Keep certifying weekly and hopefully you'll see that approval soon 🤞