The whole NYS Department of Labor system is such a mess anyway. Half the time their offices are closed for random reasons and the other half the phones don't work. Presidents Day is just another excuse for them to not help people who desperately need their benefits.

I've been dealing with NYS DOL for months now and can confirm they follow federal holiday schedules. Presidents Day = closed offices and no phone support. Pro tip though - if you have any documents to submit, you can usually drop them in the secure drop box outside most offices even when they're closed. Just make sure everything is properly labeled with your SSN and claim number. The online portal for weekly certifications stays up like others mentioned, but don't expect any human assistance until Tuesday.

I went through a similar appeal hearing last year for a misconduct denial and won without a lawyer. Here's what helped me: 1) Request all your personnel files from HR in writing - they're legally required to provide them in NY. 2) Document everything with dates and times - write down exactly what happened leading to your termination. 3) Get witness statements from coworkers if possible. 4) Review your employee handbook for the exact policies they claim you violated. The hearing was actually less intimidating than I expected - the judge asked questions and let both sides present their case. Focus on facts, not emotions, and be prepared to counter their version of events with specific details. Good luck!

I've been through the NYS DOL appeal process twice - once with a lawyer and once without. Here's my honest take: if it's a straightforward case where you have clear documentation and the facts are on your side, you can probably handle it yourself. But for misconduct cases where it's your word against theirs, a lawyer can make a real difference in how you present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. Before deciding, try calling the NYS Bar Association's lawyer referral service - many employment attorneys offer free 30-minute consultations and some work on contingency (they only get paid if you win). Also check if your local legal aid society handles unemployment appeals. Don't let the employer intimidate you with their legal team - you have rights and the judge is supposed to be neutral. Whatever you decide, start gathering your evidence now and practice telling your story clearly and chronologically.

Just went through this exact same situation last week! The website was down for almost 8 hours and I was panicking about missing my certification deadline. I ended up using the phone system at 1-888-581-5812 like others mentioned here. Pro tip: if you get busy signals, try calling during off-peak hours like early morning or late evening - seems to have better connection rates. Also, make sure you have all your info ready before calling (SSN, PIN, etc.) because the system will time out if you take too long between prompts. Definitely saving that phone number now as backup!

This thread has been super helpful! I'm also dealing with the website being down and was getting really worried about missing my certification. Just tried the phone number 1-888-581-5812 that everyone mentioned and it worked great - got through on my third try and completed everything in about 8 minutes. For anyone still struggling, I found it helpful to have my social security number and PIN written down before calling since you have to enter them pretty quickly. Really appreciate this community sharing these backup options - saved me a lot of stress!

Just want to add that you should also request a copy of your employment verification letter from HR before they fully shut down operations. Sometimes companies get sloppy with record keeping during closures and having that extra documentation can save you headaches later. Also, if you're part of a union, reach out to your rep - they might have additional resources or know if there's any special process for mass layoffs due to closure.

Been through this exact scenario! One thing that helped me was getting a statement from my disability insurance company showing my active claim dates - NY DOL liked having that official documentation to show I wasn't available for work during that period. Also make sure your doctor fills out the disability end date properly because that becomes your "available for work" date for unemployment purposes. The timing actually worked out better than I expected since being on approved leave when they closed meant no issues with "voluntary vs involuntary" separation.

Just wanted to follow up - I received my corrected 1099-G today! The NYSDOL agent I spoke with (after using that phone service I mentioned) explained that they had a system-wide issue with reporting state tax withholdings on the supplement. My advice is definitely to call them about this. The corrected form makes a big difference for my tax situation.

I've been following this thread with interest because I had a similar situation. After reading all the responses, it seems like there's some confusion about the current rules. I called NYSDOL last week about my 1099-G and was told that for 2024, the $300 supplements did have both state AND federal tax withholding if you didn't opt out. The agent said many people are seeing discrepancies on their forms due to a reporting glitch in their system. If you're seeing $0 federal withholding but only received $292 instead of $300, you should definitely request a corrected form. Don't assume it's just state taxes - get confirmation directly from them to avoid issues with your tax filing.