I'm 57 and have been watching this conversation with great interest since I'm starting to think about my own retirement timeline. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact on your final pension calculations if you're in a pension system. In many state pension plans, your benefits are calculated based on your highest earning years, and if you get laid off instead of retiring voluntarily, any severance pay or continuation of benefits might count toward those calculations. Also, some pension systems have "rule of 85" or similar provisions where your age plus years of service need to hit a certain number - getting laid off might allow you to collect pension benefits earlier than if you just retired voluntarily. I'd strongly recommend checking with your pension administrator about how different separation scenarios would affect your benefits. The unemployment benefits are temporary, but pension decisions affect you for life. Has anyone else dealt with how unemployment versus voluntary retirement impacts pension benefits?

I'm 55 and this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I've been with my current employer for 25 years and was starting to think about early retirement options, but clearly I need to do a lot more research first. The complexity around voluntary vs involuntary separation, pension implications, tax consequences, and timing is way more nuanced than I realized. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen discussed much - what about partial retirement or phased retirement programs? My employer has mentioned these as options, where you could reduce to part-time hours over a period of time before fully retiring. Would working part-time affect unemployment eligibility if you did eventually get laid off from the reduced position? Also, for those who successfully navigated getting laid off instead of retiring - how long did you typically have to wait between when you first started positioning yourself and when layoffs actually happened? I'm trying to figure out if this is something I need to start thinking about now or if it's more of a short-term strategic move. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences - this is so much more helpful than trying to decode government websites!

@Sofia I'm sorry to hear about your back injury - that sounds really stressful with the potential surgery ahead. From what I understand, the key issue is whether you're considered "able and available" for work. Since you're on workers comp and haven't been cleared by your doctor, you likely won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits right now. However, I'd suggest getting clarity from your doctor about what types of work (if any) you could potentially do with your current restrictions. If there's any possibility of light duty or modified work, that could change your eligibility. Also, look into whether NYS has any disability programs that might bridge the gap while you're recovering. Hang in there!

@Sofia I went through something very similar when I injured my shoulder at work last year. The whole process is really confusing and stressful when you're already dealing with an injury. What I learned is that you need to focus on getting very specific documentation from your doctor about your work capacity. Don't just ask "can I work?" - ask for a detailed report about what physical activities you can and cannot do. For example, can you sit for extended periods? Can you lift anything? Can you type/use a computer? If your doctor says you can do sedentary work but not physical labor, that might open the door for unemployment benefits while you search for appropriate positions. Also, make sure to document everything with NYS Department of Labor - save emails, keep notes from phone calls with dates and names. The process took me about 6 weeks to sort out, but I eventually got approved for benefits while I was cleared for light duty but my employer couldn't accommodate. Don't give up, and definitely explore the state disability options that others mentioned too!

I've been filing unemployment claims with NYS DOL for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying - the online system stays accessible during federal holidays like Labor Day. I always stick to my regular filing schedule regardless of holidays. The key thing to remember is that while you can file on the holiday, the actual processing and payment timeline gets pushed back by one business day. So don't panic if your direct deposit doesn't arrive on the usual day - it'll just be delayed. The system is pretty reliable overall, just plan your budget around that one-day delay during holiday weeks.

I'm new to the unemployment system and this thread has been really helpful! I was panicking about Labor Day too since I just started filing last month. From what everyone is saying, it sounds like the main thing is just to expect that one business day delay in processing. Does anyone know if this same rule applies to other federal holidays throughout the year, or is Labor Day different somehow? I want to make sure I'm prepared for future holidays too.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 8 days ago and the waiting is killing me! The automated phone line at 888-209-8124 that Zara mentioned was really helpful. When I called, it told me my claim was received and gave me my effective date, but still shows "pending review." One thing I noticed is that in the "Claim Summary" section of my.ny.gov (under Unemployment Services), there's a small status indicator that says either "Active," "Pending," or "Under Review" - you might need to scroll down to see it. Also, I've been keeping a log of all my weekly certifications just in case there are any issues later. Hang in there - from what everyone is saying, this waiting period seems pretty normal even though it's incredibly stressful when you need the money!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my claim 9 days ago and the uncertainty is really stressful. Thanks to everyone who shared the automated phone number (888-209-8124) - I just called and it confirmed my claim was received with an effective date from my filing date. The status shows "under review" which matches what others are seeing. I found the status indicator in the Claim Summary section that Toot-n-Mighty mentioned - had to scroll down but it's there showing "Pending Review." It's frustrating that the system doesn't make this information more obvious, but at least now I know my claim is actually in their system and being processed. Going to keep doing my weekly certifications and try to be patient, though it's hard when you're worried about bills!

I'm in a similar situation right now - just got laid off from my remote job last week and about to file. This thread is super helpful! One thing I'm wondering about is whether the work location affects anything else like which local job center I'd need to contact if they require in-person meetings? My company was based in NYC but I'm way upstate near Albany. Has anyone dealt with that aspect of remote work and unemployment?

This is really helpful information for all of us dealing with remote work unemployment situations! I just wanted to add that when you're filling out the application, there's usually a section where you can add notes or explanations. I'd recommend mentioning that you worked remotely in that section, even though you're using the employer's Manhattan address as your work location. That way if there are any questions during processing, the context is already there. Also, keep copies of any emails or documentation that show your remote work arrangement was approved by your employer - it can help if they need to verify your work situation later.