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Make sure you keep track of any wages you earn in your final week of unemployment. Even if you only work a few days, you need to report those earnings on your last certification. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about accurate wage reporting.
Just wanted to add - when you report your return to work, make sure you have your start date and employer information ready. The system will ask for your new employer's name and address. Also, if you're starting part-time initially, you might still be eligible for partial benefits, so don't assume you need to completely stop your claim right away. The system will calculate if you're still eligible based on your reduced hours/wages.
This is exactly what I needed to see right now! I'm in week 3 of review with a severance situation and have been losing sleep over this. Your detailed timeline breakdown is so helpful - knowing that your employer submitted docs on Jan 14th and you were assigned on Jan 17th gives me realistic expectations for the process. I had no idea about the different office area codes! I actually got a call from a 607 number two days ago that I let go to voicemail thinking it was a spam call. Nothing important thankfully, but now I know to answer any calls from 607 or 518 during business hours. The fact that Binghamton office tends to process faster is encouraging since I'm in central NY. Planning to call tomorrow to check if my claim has been assigned yet - that 30 minute call you made sounds like it was totally worth it for the peace of mind and concrete information. Thanks for sharing all the specific details and encouraging everyone not to give up. Posts like this make such a difference when you're stuck in that "under review" limbo with bills piling up. Will definitely keep certifying weekly and hopefully can share some good news soon!
That missed 607 call situation is exactly why this thread is so valuable! I probably would have made the same mistake. It's frustrating that the system doesn't do a better job of communicating these details upfront - like letting people know which area codes to watch for or that "under review" doesn't actually update when you get assigned. Since you're hitting week 3, tomorrow sounds like perfect timing for that status call. Based on what everyone's shared, you should be able to get concrete info about whether your employer has submitted everything and if you've been assigned to a caseworker yet. That 30-minute investment seems to give so much more useful information than weeks of checking the online portal. The Binghamton office efficiency reports are really encouraging! Sounds like once things start moving there, people are seeing results pretty quickly. Keeping my fingers crossed that your call tomorrow gives you some positive updates and maybe even gets things moving faster. Definitely keep us posted on what you find out - these real-time updates help all of us understand what to expect at different stages of the process!
This is incredibly detailed and helpful - thank you so much for breaking down your entire experience! I just filed my claim last week and also received a severance package, so reading about your timeline is giving me realistic expectations instead of just anxiously checking my account every day. The tip about the 607/518 area codes is huge - I definitely would have ignored those calls thinking they were spam. Already saved both area codes in my phone as "NY Unemployment" so I don't miss anything important. It's really encouraging to hear that the Binghamton office moves relatively quickly once claims are assigned. The fact that your employer submitted everything promptly and didn't contest the severance gives me hope since my former employer has been cooperative throughout this process too. Planning to call at the 3-week mark like others have suggested to check my assignment status. The waiting is definitely stressful, especially with bills coming due, but knowing that 4-6 weeks is normal for severance cases helps me set better expectations. Keep us posted on your payment! Based on what the agent told you, sounds like you should hear something very soon. Really appreciate you sharing all these specific details - posts like this are lifesavers for those of us just starting this process.
Same thing happened to my friend last year - they wanted to change her from day shift to overnight and she couldn't do it because of her kids. She documented the whole thing and when they fired her she got approved for unemployment. The key is showing you didn't just quit.
The schedule change situation you're describing sounds like constructive dismissal - when an employer makes your working conditions so unreasonable that you're essentially forced to quit. In NY, if you can show that refusing the schedule change was reasonable (like having family obligations or other legitimate hardship), and they terminate you for it, that should qualify as involuntary separation. Just make sure to get everything in writing - ask for the schedule change demand via email, document your response explaining why it's not feasible, and keep records of the termination if it happens. This paper trail will be crucial if you need to file for benefits or appeal a denial.
This is really good advice about constructive dismissal - I hadn't heard that term before but it sounds exactly like what's happening to me. Should I send an email to my supervisor asking them to put the schedule change ultimatum in writing, or would that seem confrontational? I'm worried about making things worse but I also want to protect myself if this goes badly.
Just want to add that weekends and holidays don't extend the 30-day deadline. So if day 30 falls on a Saturday, you still need to have it submitted by then, not the following Monday. NYS Department of Labor is pretty strict about this.
One thing to keep in mind is that you should also gather all your supporting documentation while you're preparing your protest. Don't wait until the last minute - start collecting pay stubs, termination letters, medical records, or whatever evidence supports your case right away. The 30-day window goes by faster than you think, especially if you need to track down paperwork from former employers or doctors.
Paolo Moretti
same problem here, been calling for days and getting nowhere. this is ridiculous
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Sofia Morales
I feel your frustration - I went through something similar about 6 weeks ago. One thing that helped me was contacting my local assembly member's office. They have a constituent services department that can sometimes help escalate issues with state agencies. It's not a guarantee but they were able to get my case looked at within a few days when I couldn't get through by phone. You can find your rep at nyassembly.gov and most have online contact forms. Worth a shot while you're still trying the other methods people mentioned. Hope you get this resolved before rent is due!
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NebulaKnight
•That's actually really helpful advice! I never thought about reaching out to my assembly member. How long did it take for them to respond when you contacted them? And did they actually help resolve your specific issue or just get you connected to someone at DOL?
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