The NYS Department of Labor system is so confusing when you're filling it out the first time. I made mistakes too but they were able to correct mine during the adjudication process. Just be honest about what needs to be fixed when you talk to them. They deal with this stuff all the time and know people make errors.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. Made errors on my work history dates and was panicking thinking I'd get denied. The key is to NOT file a new claim - that will just create more problems. Instead, when you get your first eligibility interview (which you probably will since your claim is pending), that's when you can explain the mistakes and they'll update your information right then. The caseworker told me they expect people to make errors on their first application and they have procedures to fix them. Just have your correct employment dates and documentation ready when they call you.

I just went through this exact same issue last week! The NY unemployment system definitely has a bug with part-time work hours. When your weekly hours vary even slightly, it triggers this "break in employment" question which is super confusing. Here's what worked for me: I selected "Still employed with reduced hours" when it asked why I'm no longer working, and re-entered all my employer information exactly as I had before. The system processed it normally after that, though my payment was delayed by about 2 days. The most important thing is DON'T say you stopped working or quit - that will freeze your benefits immediately. Just treat it like the system forgot you're still employed and remind it by re-entering your info. It's frustrating but this seems to be a common glitch that many of us part-time workers deal with regularly. Your claim should be fine once you answer the questions correctly!

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Started a part-time retail job about a month ago and the NY unemployment system keeps getting confused every time my hours change even slightly. Last week I worked 14 hours, this week 16, and suddenly it's asking me all these questions about why I'm "no longer employed" - when I never stopped working! Reading through all these responses is so reassuring though. Sounds like this is just another wonderful feature of NY's ancient unemployment system 🙄 I'm going to try re-entering my employer info exactly the same way and selecting "still employed with reduced hours" like everyone suggests. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 the system still can't handle basic part-time work scenarios. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in dealing with this glitch!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I've been waiting 2 months for my adjudication to clear and they keep saying someone will call me back. Meanwhile I can't pay my rent because my claim is stuck in limbo. They need to hire more people instead of making us wait forever.

I'm in a similar situation - been waiting 10 days for my callback. From what I've experienced, they also sometimes call from numbers that show up as "Unknown" or "Private Number" so I've been answering those too just in case. You can also try calling their main line at 888-209-8124 early in the morning (like right at 8am when they open) to see if you can get through to someone directly instead of waiting for the callback.

Just wanted to share my recent experience to hopefully ease some anxiety! I was in the exact same situation about 6 weeks ago - pending adjudication with no updates for what felt like forever. NYS DOL did call me after 16 days, and honestly it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. They left a clear voicemail with a reference number and gave me 3 business days to call back. The interview was straightforward - mostly verifying the information I had already provided online about why I left my job. The whole call took about 30 minutes and the representative was actually quite helpful and patient. My biggest tip: write down all your employment dates, reasons for leaving, and any documentation you have BEFORE they call, so you're not scrambling to find information during the interview. Also, I noticed they called between 10 AM and 3 PM on weekdays, so try to keep your phone handy during those hours. Your two weeks of waiting is still within the normal timeframe, so try not to stress too much. They will contact you when they need additional info!

I had a very similar experience with NYS DOL calling during adjudication! They reached out to me after about 19 days of pending status. What really helped me was making sure my voicemail greeting was professional and clear, and I kept a notepad by my phone with all my work history details written down. The call came on a Tuesday around 11:30 AM and they left a detailed message with a case reference number, giving me until Friday to call back. The actual interview was about 20 minutes and mostly focused on verifying the circumstances around leaving my previous job. One thing that surprised me was how thorough they were - they had clearly reviewed my entire file before calling. My advice is to also check your email regularly because they sent me a follow-up email with the same reference number after leaving the voicemail. The waiting is definitely stressful but try to stay patient - two weeks is still well within the normal range for adjudication. Keep your phone close and charged, especially during business hours!

The NYS Department of Labor publishes industry rate schedules but they're not super easy to find on their website. Your best bet is to call their employer services line directly - they can tell you the starting rate for your specific NAICS code over the phone. When I was planning my business budget, I also reached out to other business owners in my industry through local business associations to get real-world examples of what they were paying. Most were pretty open about sharing their experience once I explained I was just starting out. Also worth noting that if you're planning to use contractors vs employees, that completely changes the unemployment insurance picture since you typically don't pay UI on 1099 contractors.

One thing I learned the hard way is that even if you start as a new employer at around 4.1%, you need to stay on top of your quarterly reporting deadlines or you'll get hit with penalties that can push your effective rate higher. The NYS Department of Labor requires quarterly wage reports and tax payments, and they're pretty strict about the deadlines - usually the last day of the month following the end of each quarter. I missed one deadline by two days in my second year and got slapped with a $50 penalty plus interest. Also keep in mind that if you're seasonal or have irregular staffing, it might be worth talking to an employment attorney about strategies to minimize claims impact on your future rates. Some industries have specific rules about seasonal workers that can affect your experience rating.