I went through something similar with a back injury from my job at a warehouse. What really helped me was getting a clear letter from my doctor that specified exactly what I could and couldn't do - like "can sit for 4 hours with breaks, no lifting over 10 lbs, no standing for extended periods." With that documentation, I was able to apply for unemployment because even though I couldn't do my regular warehouse job, I could potentially do office work or other seated positions. The NYS Department of Labor representative told me that as long as I was actively seeking work within my restrictions and my employer couldn't accommodate those restrictions, I qualified for benefits while my workers comp case was pending. Just make sure you're completely transparent about your limitations when you file - don't hide your injury but also don't oversell your disability if you can actually work in some capacity.

I'm going through something very similar right now - injured at work in January and still waiting on workers comp approval. What I learned from speaking with a benefits counselor is that you might qualify for unemployment if your doctor releases you for ANY type of work, even with restrictions. The trick is getting your doctor to be very specific about what you CAN do rather than just what you can't do. For example, instead of "cannot lift heavy objects," ask for something like "cleared for sedentary work, no lifting over 15 pounds, can work 6-8 hours with breaks." Then you can honestly say you're able and available for work that fits those restrictions while your workers comp processes. I'd recommend calling the NYS Department of Labor directly to discuss your specific situation before filing anything - they were actually pretty helpful in explaining how the two programs can work together legally.

Yeah the benefit amount is locked in when you first file. I've been on unemployment twice and it never changed mid-claim even when there were minimum wage increases both times.

Just to add another perspective - I was initially disappointed when I realized my benefits wouldn't increase with the new minimum wage, but honestly it makes sense from a legal standpoint. The unemployment insurance system is designed to replace a percentage of wages you actually earned and contributed to the system through payroll taxes. Those contributions were based on your historical wages, not future wage rates. If you start a new claim after working at the higher minimum wage, then your benefits would be calculated using those higher wages in your base period.

I had the same confusion when I first filed! MWA is definitely not something most regular unemployment claimants need to worry about. I've been collecting UI benefits for a few months now and that field has stayed blank the entire time without any issues. The key thing is just making sure you're doing your required work search activities and certifying your weekly claims on time. Don't stress about the empty MWA field - it won't hold up your benefits.

I went through the same confusion when I first started my claim! MWA definitely threw me off too. Like others have said, it's only relevant if you're in specific work training programs through social services. I've had my unemployment claim active for about 8 weeks now with that field completely blank and haven't had any problems with my weekly payments. The NYS DOL system can be really confusing with all these different fields and acronyms, but don't let an empty MWA field stress you out. Just focus on your regular job search activities and weekly certifications - that's what actually matters for your UI benefits.

Pro tip for everyone struggling with the NY unemployment website - if you're using an older browser or have strict privacy settings, some of the navigation elements might not load properly. I had this issue where the Payment History section wasn't showing up at all until I switched to Chrome and disabled my ad blocker temporarily. Also, make sure you're fully logged out and back in if you've been on the site for a while - sometimes the session gets wonky and certain pages won't display correctly. The website definitely has its quirks but these tricks usually help when things aren't working as expected!

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble finding these documents, you can also request them by mail if needed. I had to do this once when the website was down for maintenance during tax season. You can call the NYSDOL customer service line and request they mail you a paper copy of your 1099-G and payment history - it takes about 7-10 business days to arrive, but it's a good backup option if you're running into technical issues with the website or need official hard copies for your records.

Congratulations on getting through and finding out what the issue was! This is exactly why I always recommend people call rather than just waiting - there are so many hidden requirements that never show up in your online account. I had a similar experience where they needed proof of my job search activities from 2 months prior, but there was zero indication of this anywhere on the website. The system really needs better communication. Hoping your payments come through quickly now that you've submitted everything!

So glad to hear you got through and figured out what was holding things up! This is such a common issue - the NY unemployment system really needs to do better at communicating these additional requirements upfront. I went through something similar last fall where they needed extra documentation but never told me through the online portal. Only found out when I finally reached an agent after weeks of trying. It's ridiculous that people have to guess what might be missing from their claim. Hopefully once you get your documentation processed, the back payments will come through quickly. Thanks for sharing the Claimyr tip too - might be useful for others stuck in the same boat!