Just wanted to chime in as another person who got completely stuck on this! I'm filing for unemployment for the first time ever and was getting so frustrated trying to find where to even start. This whole thread has been a lifesaver - I was ready to assume I was doing something wrong or wasn't eligible. It's honestly shocking that a government system this important can be so user-unfriendly. I'm going to try all these suggestions tomorrow morning during off-peak hours. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their solutions and workarounds. Hopefully NY gets their act together and fixes these issues soon, but until then at least we have this community to help each other out!

This thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - been trying to file for three days and getting nowhere. I had a claim back in 2022 and the website looks completely different now. Going to try the career counselor's step-by-step method first, then work through the browser/ad blocker suggestions. It's frustrating that something so essential requires this much detective work, but I'm grateful everyone shared their solutions. Will report back if I find any other workarounds!

Just went through this whole process myself! Had 5 calls total over 6 months - they're definitely not monthly like I thought they'd be. The timing seems totally random but they do eventually stop once you establish a pattern of compliance. My advice is to always answer unknown NY numbers during business hours and keep a simple log of your job search activities. Makes the calls way less stressful when you're prepared!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm on my second call and was definitely worried this would be a monthly torture session. Sounds like it varies a lot but eventually stops - that's a huge relief. @Sophie Hernandez your breakdown was super helpful, especially about keeping detailed job search records. I've been kind of winging it with my documentation but clearly need to get more organized before the next call hits!

I went through this exact same confusion last year! The effective days are definitely what matters most now. I had 12 effective days left but my BYE date was still 4 months away - I thought I had plenty of time but nope, ran out in 3 weeks. The way I understand it: each week you certify uses up 4 effective days (assuming you qualify for the full week). So with 8 effective days, you've got 2 weeks max before benefits stop completely, regardless of that February BYE date. Since all the pandemic extensions ended, once your effective days hit zero, that's it until you can qualify for a new claim by working again. I'd definitely recommend ramping up your job search ASAP - those 8 days will go faster than you think! Also, if you need to talk to someone at DOL to confirm your situation or ask about next steps, I'd suggest trying one of those callback services like claimyr.com. I was skeptical at first but it beat spending days trying to get through on the phone myself. Good luck!

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing a few months ago. The key thing to understand is that your effective days are like your "benefit bank account" - once they're depleted, you're done receiving payments regardless of what your BYE date says. With 8 effective days remaining, you basically have 2 weeks of benefits left (since each week uses 4 effective days). Your BYE date of 02/13/2022 is just the absolute latest your claim could possibly run, but you'll hit zero effective days way before then. I'd strongly recommend getting in touch with a DOL agent to confirm your exact situation and discuss any options you might have. The phone lines are notoriously difficult, but I had success using claimyr.com to get a callback - saved me literally hours of redialing. They connected me with an agent who walked me through everything and helped me understand my timeline. Bottom line: start your job search in overdrive mode because those 8 days will be gone before you know it, and there are no more extensions available like there were during the pandemic. Good luck!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - just got let go after 7 weeks during my probation period for "not being the right fit for the team dynamic." I was so worried about filing because I thought probation automatically meant no unemployment benefits, but reading all these success stories has completely changed my perspective! It's amazing to see how many people have been approved despite being terminated during probation. The consistent message seems to be that NYS DOL only cares about misconduct vs. performance issues, not your employment status. Since yours was clearly performance-related ("not meeting expectations"), you should definitely file your claim immediately. I'm planning to file mine tomorrow morning after reading everyone's experiences here. Thanks Ruby for asking this question - this thread has been incredibly valuable for all of us dealing with probationary terminations!

I just went through this same situation about 2 months ago - got terminated after 9 weeks during my 90-day probation for "not demonstrating sufficient progress in key competencies." I was absolutely terrified to file for unemployment because I was convinced that being on probation would automatically disqualify me. I even called a friend who works in HR at another company, and she told me I probably wouldn't qualify, which made me even more hesitant. But after doing some research online and finding threads like this one, I decided to take the leap and file anyway. Best decision I could have made! NYS DOL approved my claim in just over 2 weeks with absolutely no issues. The case worker I spoke with during the phone interview was really clear that probationary status is completely irrelevant to their decision-making process. She explained that they only distinguish between misconduct terminations (things like theft, violence, intentional policy violations) versus performance/capability terminations. Since I was let go for not meeting performance standards rather than any kind of wrongdoing, it was a straightforward approval. I've now been receiving benefits for about 6 weeks while job searching, and it's made such a huge difference in reducing my financial stress during this transition. Ruby, based on what you've described - being let go for "not meeting expectations" rather than misconduct - you should absolutely file your claim immediately. Don't let the probation thing scare you away from benefits you've rightfully earned!

I'm just getting started with researching this myself after being laid off from my construction job 4 weeks ago. This thread is a goldmine of information! I had no clue about the WIOA program or that you could potentially keep your unemployment benefits during training. The advice about contacting the One-Stop Career Center first and coming prepared with job market research seems crucial. I'm definitely going to start looking up CDL job postings in my area before I make that call. Has anyone here had experience with getting training approved for someone coming from a construction background? I'm wondering if my previous work experience might help or hurt my case, since construction and trucking seem somewhat related but I don't have any commercial driving experience yet.

I'm just starting to explore this option too after being unemployed for about 5 weeks. This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea the state could potentially cover CDL training costs while you keep your benefits! Reading everyone's experiences gives me a lot more confidence about reaching out to my local One-Stop Career Center. The advice about doing your homework first really resonates with me - I'm going to spend this weekend researching approved schools and local trucking job opportunities so I can show up prepared. Has anyone found any particularly good resources for researching the local job market for CDL drivers, beyond just the usual job posting sites? I want to make sure I have a solid understanding of opportunities in my area before I have that first meeting with a counselor.