unpopular opinion but maybe try gig work? uber/doordash let u control ur hours and u can still job hunt

Thanks everyone for the detailed info! As someone new to this whole unemployment system, this thread is incredibly helpful. @Dmitry Ivanov that breakdown is exactly what I needed - gonna screenshot that for reference. Quick follow up question: when you report part-time income, do you report gross or net earnings? And does freelance/contract work count the same as regular part-time employment? I do some web dev consulting on the side and want to make sure I'm reporting everything correctly.

Just to add - when you file make sure you answer the questions about school employment honestly. NYS Department of Labor will verify with your district anyway so don't try to hide that you're a school employee. The determination will depend on whether you have reasonable assurance of work for the next school year.

Same boat here! Filed last week and still waiting to hear back from them. The uncertainty is killing me because I need to know if I should look for summer work or wait for unemployment to kick in.

Amazon definitely pays unemployment taxes to NYS Department of Labor - they can't opt out of that. I got laid off from the Staten Island warehouse last spring and received my benefits without any major issues. The whole "not eligible" thing your supervisor mentioned is probably just intimidation tactics or confusion about misconduct vs. layoffs. File your claim immediately at my.ny.gov since there's a one-week waiting period before payments begin. Make sure you have your employment start/end dates, reason for separation, and last day worked ready. Even if Amazon contests it during adjudication, you can appeal. Don't let them scare you out of benefits you've earned!

Your supervisor was definitely wrong - Amazon pays unemployment taxes to NYS Department of Labor just like every other employer in New York. I went through this exact situation 8 months ago when I got terminated from the Amazon facility in Albany. Filed my claim online and received my first payment about 3 weeks later. The key is to apply immediately since there's a waiting week, and make sure you select "discharged/terminated" as your separation reason rather than "quit." Keep all your pay stubs and any termination paperwork handy in case NYS DOL needs documentation during their review process. Don't let them discourage you from claiming benefits you've rightfully earned through your work!

This is actually a really common situation! Your dad should definitely apply for unemployment benefits. Age and social security don't disqualify him as long as he's able and available to work, which sounds like he is. I'd recommend he file his claim online at labor.ny.gov as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start. When he does his weekly certifications, he'll need to report his social security income, but NYS DOL will calculate any reductions automatically. The main thing is being honest about his work search efforts and availability. Given that he was actively working part-time until recently, he should have no problem demonstrating he's ready and willing to work again.

I went through something similar with my uncle last year. He was 65, collecting social security, and got let go from his part-time job at a grocery store. NYS Department of Labor approved his claim without any issues. The key thing is that "retirement" doesn't mean you can't or don't want to work - it just means you're collecting social security benefits. As long as your dad can honestly say he's able, available, and actively seeking work (which it sounds like he can), he should qualify. The social security will reduce his weekly benefit amount but won't eliminate it entirely. He should definitely apply ASAP since benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you were laid off. Also, make sure he has all his employment records from the retail store ready - pay stubs, termination notice, etc. Good luck to your dad!

I had a similar experience but with federal taxes owed. The unemployment office processed my claim normally and I got approved based on my work history. About a month later I started receiving notices that they were intercepting part of my benefits for the tax debt. In my case they took about 20% each week until the debt was paid off. The good news is you still get most of your money and they can't take 100% - they have to leave you enough to live on. Definitely file your claim immediately though, don't wait because of the tax issue. You earned those benefits through your payroll contributions when you were working.

I'm in a similar boat right now - just lost my job last week and also owe back taxes from 2021. Reading through these responses is really reassuring! It sounds like the key takeaway is that owing taxes won't prevent you from getting approved for unemployment, but they may take a portion to pay down what you owe. From what everyone's saying, it seems like 15-25% is pretty typical for the offset amount. The most important thing seems to be filing your claim right away since there are waiting periods involved. I'm definitely going to apply tomorrow morning - thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!