I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - you're in a really good position if your employer doesn't show up! I had my hearing about 8 months ago and my former employer was also a no-show. The judge was incredibly fair and patient with me. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to budget cuts, make sure you emphasize that this was an economic decision by the company, not anything related to your job performance or conduct. If you have any documentation showing the layoffs were company-wide or affected multiple employees, that would be really helpful too. The fact that your employer initially contested it but then doesn't bother to show up to defend their position actually works in your favor - it suggests they don't have a strong case. Stay calm, stick to the facts, and you should be fine. Rooting for you!

I went through this exact scenario about 4 months ago and wanted to share some additional tips that helped me. My employer also claimed misconduct but didn't show up to the hearing. Beyond having your documentation ready, I'd suggest writing out a brief timeline of events beforehand - it really helped me stay organized when the judge asked questions. Also, if you have any performance reviews or emails showing you were a good employee before the layoffs, bring those too. They help counter any misconduct claims. The whole process was way less intimidating than I expected, especially with just me and the judge on the call. The judge even complimented me on being well-prepared! You've got this - the fact that you're asking these questions shows you're taking it seriously, which is exactly the right approach.

Just want to add another red flag about these scam calls - legitimate DOL representatives will never pressure you to provide information immediately or threaten that your benefits will be cut off if you don't comply right away. Scammers use urgency and fear tactics to get you to act without thinking. The real DOL understands that people need time to verify calls and will always allow you to call back through official channels. If anyone ever says "we need this information right now or your claim will be denied," that's a guaranteed scam!

I work as a fraud investigator and see these NY unemployment scams daily. The 518 area code is Albany (where DOL headquarters is), which makes these calls seem more legitimate to victims. Scammers specifically choose local area codes to build false trust. Another red flag is that legitimate DOL staff will always provide you with a case number or reference number when they call, and they'll encourage you to verify their identity by calling the main DOL line. Never trust caller ID either - scammers can spoof any number they want. If you're ever unsure about ANY call claiming to be from a government agency, hang up and call the official number yourself. Better to be safe than sorry with your personal information!

Definitely report it to be safe! I had the same dilemma last year and decided to officially notify them through the online portal - it was super quick and gave me peace of mind. You can find the option to report employment changes in your NY.gov account under the unemployment section. That way you're covered if they ever do any audits later. Most people do just stop certifying and it works out fine, but taking the extra 5 minutes to report it officially is worth it IMO. Good luck with the new job! 🎉

I was in the exact same boat when I got my job back in October! I ended up doing both - stopped certifying AND reported it online through my NY.gov account just to cover all bases. The online reporting literally took 2 minutes and there's a specific section for employment status changes. While everyone here is right that most people just stop certifying without issues, I figured better safe than sorry since I've heard they can be really strict about overpayments if there's ever a question later. Plus it felt good to officially close that chapter, you know? Congrats on the new gig! 🎉

I'm going through this EXACT same situation and it's honestly driving me insane! Filed my NY unemployment claim in late February and have been stuck at $0 with 104 effective days for about 5 weeks now. Just like literally everyone else in this thread, I also had multiple employers last year - worked at a clothing store until October, then got hired at a small logistics company that had to lay me off in January due to contract losses. The multiple employer pattern from everyone's comments is undeniable! It's clearly what's triggering these endless "reviews" with zero transparency about what's actually happening. I've called NYSDOL about 17 times and it's always that same maddening "your claim is under review" script with absolutely no specifics about what they're reviewing or any realistic timeline. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was starting to panic that there was something uniquely wrong with my application until I saw how widespread this issue is. Based on all the great advice shared here, I'm definitely going to try sending a secure message through my account asking specifically about adjudication, and when I call next I'll push to get transferred to a Tier 2 specialist who can actually see my file details. It's both comforting and infuriating to know so many of us are dealing with this identical nightmare. The financial stress is becoming overwhelming but at least now I know this is a systemic problem with multiple employer cases and not something I did wrong. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - hopefully we all get some movement on our claims soon!

I'm going through the EXACT same nightmare right now! Filed my claim in early March and have been stuck at $0 with 104 effective days for about 3 weeks. Just like literally everyone else here, I also had multiple employers last year - worked at a small restaurant until August, then got a job at an insurance office that eliminated my position in February due to restructuring. The multiple employer pattern is so clear from reading all these comments! I've called maybe 12 times and always get that same infuriating "your claim is under review" response with zero specifics. It's such a relief to find this thread because I was convinced something was wrong with just my application. Based on all the advice here, I'm definitely going to try that secure messaging approach and ask specifically about adjudication when I call next. The lack of transparency is honestly the worst part when bills are piling up and you have no idea what's actually happening or when it might be resolved. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're all going through this together and that it's a systemic issue with multiple employer cases rather than individual problems with our claims!

Have you considered reaching out to local community organizations or churches? Some areas have emergency transportation assistance programs or volunteer driver networks for people in situations like yours. Also, check if your county has any emergency financial assistance programs - sometimes they can help with critical car repairs that are needed to maintain employment. It's worth exhausting all these options before potentially losing your job, since as others mentioned, the unemployment qualification for transportation issues is really tough in NY.

I went through something similar a few years ago when my car died and I was working in a location with no public transit. What saved me was finding a coworker who lived somewhat nearby and offering to split gas costs for rides. Even though it was expensive, it was way cheaper than rideshare and bought me time to figure out a longer-term solution. Also, don't give up on the unemployment angle completely - if your employer fires you without giving you reasonable time to arrange alternative transportation, that could potentially be argued as termination rather than voluntary quit. The key is documenting that you're actively trying to solve the problem and asking your employer for a reasonable accommodation period. Have you asked HR or your supervisor exactly how much time they'd give you to work out transportation before letting you go?