UGH this whole system is set up to screw workers over. They make it nearly impossible to quit a bad job and still get benefits. Meanwhile employers can fire you for any reason and you get unemployment no problem. Makes no sense.

Have you considered documenting whether your supervisor is giving you adequate notice for schedule changes? In NY, there are predictive scheduling laws for certain industries that require advance notice. If your employer is violating those rules, that could strengthen a "good cause" case. Also, keep track of how the hour cuts are affecting your total earnings - if you're earning significantly less than when you were hired, that might be considered constructive dismissal. The key is building a strong paper trail before you make any decisions.

Been getting both for 6 months now. No problems at all. Just make sure you keep up with all the paperwork and requirements for both programs. TANF has some additional requirements like work activities that you'll need to follow along with your unemployment job search.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago with two kids as well. You absolutely can and should apply for both! Don't wait - the processing times can be weeks for both programs. For TANF cash assistance, you'll need to go to your local Department of Social Services office with documents like proof of income loss, rent/utility bills, and ID for you and the kids. They'll do an interview and calculate your benefits based on your household size and any other income including unemployment. The unemployment office doesn't need to know about TANF, but social services needs to know about your UI benefits. Also look into SNAP (food stamps) and emergency rental assistance programs - there are resources specifically for people in your situation. Hang in there, it gets better!

Just want to add that you should NEVER share your UI number with anyone except official NYS Department of Labor representatives. There are scammers out there who try to get this information. Always verify you're on the official my.ny.gov website or speaking with real NYS Department of Labor staff before giving out any claim details.

Great advice from everyone here! Just to add one more tip for finding your UI number - if you're having trouble locating it in your online account, it's also printed on any correspondence you receive from NYS Department of Labor, including your monetary determination letter and any notices about your claim. I always keep a screenshot of mine saved on my phone since you need it so frequently when dealing with unemployment stuff. Also seconding what Noah said about keeping it secure - treat it like you would any other important account number.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely maddening! I just went through this exact nightmare about a month ago and I completely understand your frustration. The NY unemployment phone system is completely broken right now and it honestly feels intentional. After reading through all these comments, I'd definitely recommend trying multiple approaches at once: 1. Contact your state assemblyperson ASAP - so many people here got callbacks within 2-3 days after weeks of trying on their own. Just google "find my NY assemblyperson" with your zip code. 2. Try calling right at 7:58am before they officially open - seems to help you get in the queue before it fills up completely. 3. Try calling their technical support or disability lines and ask for transfers to unemployment - some people had better luck with those numbers. The claimyr service that everyone keeps mentioning also sounds legitimate based on all these independent success stories. I was skeptical at first but seeing so many people vouch for it throughout this thread is pretty convincing. Don't give up! Everyone says the actual verification call takes like 5 minutes once you get through to a real person - it's just this broken phone system that's the nightmare. You've already put in weeks of effort, you're so close to getting this resolved. This community has your back! 🤞💪

I'm dealing with this EXACT same nightmare right now and I feel your pain! Been trying to get through for almost 3 weeks and it's driving me absolutely insane. The system is completely broken and it honestly feels like they designed it this way on purpose to make us give up. After reading through all these comments though, I'm feeling way more hopeful! I had no idea you could contact your state assemblyperson for unemployment issues - that's brilliant and I'm definitely trying that tomorrow morning. The fact that multiple people got callbacks within 2-3 days after weeks of trying on their own is amazing. Also going to try that 7:58am calling strategy since so many people swear by it. Makes total sense to get in the queue before it completely fills up. The claimyr service everyone keeps mentioning is really intriguing too. I'm usually super skeptical of third-party services but seeing so many independent success stories throughout this thread is pretty convincing. The fact that they're just automating the hold process rather than claiming special connections makes it seem legit. It's absolutely ridiculous that we need a whole strategy guide just to access benefits we've literally paid into our entire working lives, but at least this community has figured out some actual solutions! Don't give up - from what everyone's saying, once you get through to a real person the verification takes like 5 minutes. We just have to crack this broken system first. Sending you all the good vibes! Let us know what works - we're all rooting for you! 🤞💪

Check if your address is correct in your account too. My cousin had correspondence issue dates but never got the letters because her address was wrong in the system.

I've dealt with this before - the correspondence issue date just means NYS DOL generated some kind of document on that date. It could be anything from a routine acknowledgment letter to something more important. Here's what I'd recommend: first check your online account messages thoroughly (sometimes they're in different sections), then give it a few more days for mail delivery since postal service can be slow. If nothing shows up by early next week, definitely call them to ask what was issued. Keep your claim number handy when you call. In the meantime, keep certifying as normal - the correspondence issue date alone won't affect your weekly benefits.