@Mia Rodriguez - Based on what you've described with working 25-30 hours at $15/hour, you should definitely have enough credit weeks! Those earnings would put you well over the $143 minimum threshold. The key thing is making sure those wages were reported correctly by your employers to NYS. If you're still unsure about your exact count, you might also try visiting a local Department of Labor career center - sometimes the in-person staff can pull up more detailed information than what's available online. They're usually less busy than the phone lines too.

Just want to add that if you're still working part-time while applying for unemployment, those current earnings could affect your weekly benefit amount but shouldn't impact your credit weeks eligibility since that's based on your past work history. Make sure to report any part-time work when you certify each week though! Also, if you worked for multiple employers during your base period, all of those jobs contribute to your total credit weeks as long as each week you earned over the minimum threshold from any combination of those jobs.

I went through something similar last year. In NY, employers can contest for misconduct, but they need to prove it was willful and work-related. A single verbal warning from months ago probably isn't enough to establish a pattern of misconduct, especially if there's no documentation. Keep records of everything - your layoff notice, any emails mentioning budget cuts, etc. During the fact-finding interview, be honest and stick to the facts. If they really did lay you off due to budget issues, that should come out in the investigation. Don't panic yet - many employer contests fail when they can't provide proper documentation.

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! My employer is claiming I was terminated for poor performance when I was actually laid off due to downsizing. From what I've learned, NY requires employers to prove misconduct was "deliberate and willful" - not just poor performance or isolated incidents. The fact that you have documentation about budget cuts is huge in your favor. I'd also recommend requesting your personnel file from your former employer if you haven't already - sometimes they can't produce the documentation they claim to have. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking but try to stay focused on gathering any evidence that supports the real reason you were let go.

I went through this same confusion when I first started collecting! The 3 work search activities per week requirement is correct, but I'd also recommend calling your local One-Stop Career Center if you have questions about what counts. They're usually more helpful than trying to get through to the main NYS DOL phone lines. Also, don't forget that things like updating your resume, attending workshops (even virtual ones), or networking on LinkedIn can count as valid activities too. The key is just documenting everything properly with dates and details in case they ask for your records later.

I've been collecting unemployment in NY for about 6 months now and can confirm it's 3 work search activities per week. What really helped me was setting up a routine - I dedicate Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to my job search activities. Sometimes I'll do more than 3 if I find good opportunities, but the minimum is definitely 3. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is that you can also count things like reaching out to professional contacts, attending virtual career fairs, or even taking online courses related to your field. The NYS DOL is pretty flexible about what counts as long as it's a genuine effort to find work and you document it properly. I use a simple Excel sheet to track everything - date, activity type, company/organization, and any follow-up actions. Haven't had any issues with my benefits so far!

Just wanted to add my experience - I did exactly this when I went on vacation for a week. Filed my weekly claim but answered "no" to being available for work, got $0 for that week, and then everything went back to normal the following week when I was available again. NYS Department of Labor's system handled it smoothly and I didn't have any issues with my subsequent claims. The key is definitely being honest about your availability rather than trying to skip filing altogether. Have an amazing wedding and honeymoon! 💒

One more thing to consider - make sure you don't accidentally miss filing your claim during your honeymoon! NYS Department of Labor requires you to file within a specific window each week. You can file online from anywhere as long as you have internet access, so you might want to set a reminder on your phone to file even while you're away. Missing the filing deadline entirely is different from filing but reporting unavailability, and could potentially cause more complications with your claim.

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this - the NY unemployment system is so confusing and poorly explained! You're absolutely right that you can't file a new claim until your benefit year ends in September. I went through this exact same situation about a year ago and it was one of the most stressful periods of my life. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1) Apply for SNAP benefits immediately - the process was way faster than I expected and it made a huge difference with grocery costs. 2) Contact 211 for local emergency assistance programs - many have rent assistance funds available. 3) Look into temporary work through staffing agencies, especially ones that focus on accounting/finance since that's your background. 4) Check out the 599 training program if you're interested in learning new skills while getting benefits. 5) Don't give up on job applications - I applied to over 400 positions before landing something, but persistence paid off. The gap between benefit exhaustion and benefit year ending is brutal, but there are resources to help bridge it. You've made it through tough times before and you'll make it through this too. Keep us posted on how things go!

I'm in almost the exact same situation and just wanted to let you know you're not alone in this struggle! My benefits also ended after 26 weeks but my benefit year doesn't end until October. It's such a cruel system design - like they want to make people suffer during that gap period. I've been researching every possible option and here's what I've found that might help: definitely apply for SNAP benefits ASAP (the application is actually pretty straightforward), look into local emergency rental assistance through your county's social services, and consider the 599 training program if you're willing to learn new skills. I also started doing some freelance bookkeeping through online platforms which has helped bring in a little money while I continue job searching. The uncertainty is terrifying but we just have to take it one day at a time. Hang in there - we'll both get through this!