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The whole quarterly system is designed to screw workers over if you ask me. Why should some arbitrary calendar quarters determine your benefits instead of just looking at your most recent work history? Makes no sense.
I mean I get the frustration but there has to be some consistent way to calculate benefits. At least the alternate base period helps people who worked more recently.
The base period calculation definitely seems confusing at first! One thing that helped me understand it was thinking of it like this: NYS Department of Labor needs time to process all the wage data from employers before they can use it for benefit calculations. That's why they skip the most recent quarter - the wage reports might not be complete yet. Also, don't worry too much about gaps between jobs - what matters is having enough earnings in at least 2 quarters of your base period. If you worked steadily for 18 months, you should be in good shape. You can always call or check online to see what quarters and earnings they have on file for you before filing your claim.
That's a really helpful way to think about it! I never considered that they need time to process the wage data. That makes the timing make more sense. Is there a way to check what earnings they have on file before filing, or do you have to wait until you actually submit the claim? I'm worried there might be some missing quarters from when I switched jobs.
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I went through this exact same process about 8 months ago and completely understand your nerves! Here are a few things that really helped me prepare: 1. Create a simple "cheat sheet" with key dates, your claim ID number, and main points you want to cover 2. Practice explaining your employment situation in 2-3 sentences - the judge will likely ask you to summarize early on 3. If you were terminated, be ready to explain exactly what happened and why you believe it was unfair 4. Have copies of any relevant emails, texts, or documents easily accessible during the call 5. Find a quiet space with good cell/internet connection and test it beforehand The actual hearing was much more conversational than I expected. My judge was professional and gave me time to explain my side. Even though my employer participated, I felt like I got a fair hearing. The key is being honest, organized, and sticking to the facts. One more tip - they'll likely ask about your job search efforts since filing, so have some examples ready of where you've applied or looked for work. You're going to do great! The fact that you're preparing ahead of time already puts you in a good position.
This is such helpful advice, Isabella! The cheat sheet idea is brilliant - I'm definitely making one this weekend with all my key info so I don't fumble around looking for details during the hearing. I really like your point about practicing a 2-3 sentence summary of my situation. I tend to over-explain when I'm nervous, so having a concise version ready will probably help me stay on track. It's also reassuring to hear that your judge was conversational and professional - that makes it sound much less intimidating than I was imagining. Thank you for mentioning the job search question too, I hadn't thought about preparing specific examples but that makes total sense. I feel so much more confident after reading everyone's experiences here!
I'm going through the same situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My hearing is scheduled for next week and I was feeling completely overwhelmed until I read all these responses. I especially appreciate the practical tips about testing phone connections, having water nearby, and creating a timeline with specific dates. One question I have - for those who had favorable outcomes, how detailed did you get when explaining your separation from your job? I was laid off due to "budget cuts" but I suspect it was actually retaliation for filing a complaint with HR about my supervisor. Should I mention the HR complaint or just stick to the official reason they gave me? I have documentation of both the complaint and the layoff notice, but I'm not sure how much detail to go into during the hearing. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made such a difference in my stress level knowing what to expect!
I think you should definitely mention the HR complaint if you believe the layoff was retaliation! That could actually strengthen your case since retaliation isn't a valid reason for termination that would disqualify you from benefits. I'd present both pieces of information - the official reason they gave (budget cuts) and your suspicion about retaliation, along with the documentation you have for both. The judge needs to understand the full context to make a fair decision. Since you have documentation of the HR complaint and the timeline, that shows you're not just making accusations without proof. Just present the facts clearly and let the judge determine if there's a connection. Good luck with your hearing next week!
I agree with GalacticGladiator - you should absolutely mention the HR complaint and potential retaliation! In my hearing, the judge specifically asked if there were any other circumstances surrounding my termination that I felt were relevant. Retaliation is actually illegal under NY labor law, so if that's what really happened, it would only help your case. I'd recommend presenting it this way: "The official reason given was budget cuts, however, I believe this may have been retaliation for an HR complaint I filed about my supervisor on [date]. I have documentation of both the complaint and the layoff notice." Keep it factual and let the documentation speak for itself. The worst thing that could happen is the judge says it's not relevant, but more likely it will give important context to your situation. You've got this!
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I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm on week 24 of my regular benefits and getting really anxious about what's coming next. The information about the 599 Training Program is especially interesting - I've been thinking about getting some IT certifications anyway, so if I can continue getting benefits while doing that, it might be perfect timing. One thing I'm still confused about though - if my benefit year ends but I haven't used all 26 weeks yet (maybe because of a gap in certification or something), do I lose those unused weeks? Or can I still collect them even after the benefit year ends? The rep StarSurfer spoke to mentioned the benefit year ending just means you have until then to collect your weeks, but I want to make sure I understand this correctly. Also, has anyone here actually gone through the 599 Training Program? I'd love to hear about the experience and whether it's worth it.
Hey Rudy! Great question about the benefit year vs unused weeks. From what I understand (and please correct me if I'm wrong, anyone), once your benefit year ends, you typically can't collect any remaining unused weeks from that year. The benefit year is like an expiration date - you have to use those 26 weeks within that timeframe or you lose them. That's why it's so important to keep certifying every week even if you're working part-time or have temporary income. I haven't personally done the 599 Training Program, but a friend of mine did it for a medical coding certificate last year. She said the application process was pretty straightforward through NYSDOL, but you have to make sure your program is pre-approved before you start. She was able to get extended benefits while in training, which really helped her finish the program without financial stress. Definitely worth looking into if you're serious about the IT certs!
I went through the 599 Training Program about 8 months ago and it was honestly a lifesaver! I was able to extend my benefits while getting certified in web development. Here's what I learned: The key is making sure your training program is on the approved list BEFORE you enroll. You can't just pick any school or course - it has to be pre-approved by NYSDOL. I made the mistake of starting to research programs before checking the list first. The application process was pretty smooth once I found an approved program. You fill out some forms through your online unemployment account, and they review it pretty quickly. While you're in training, you still have to certify weekly, but the work search requirements are waived since you're in school. One heads up though - you need to maintain satisfactory progress in your program or they can cut off the extended benefits. They're pretty reasonable about what "satisfactory" means, but don't slack off. @Rudy - for IT certs, I'd definitely recommend looking into community colleges that offer programs on the approved list. Many of them have flexible schedules and the training benefits made it possible for me to focus on learning instead of stressing about money. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions!
@Ava This is super helpful, thank you! I've been looking at some community college programs and wondering about the flexibility aspect. When you say they had flexible schedules, were you able to do evening or weekend classes while still looking for work during regular business hours? And did you find that having the training actually helped you land a better job afterward, or was it more about just extending the benefits? I'm trying to weigh whether it's worth committing to a full program vs just focusing on job searching.
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Same boat here - been in adjudication for 3 weeks now. The waiting is killing me financially. At least we're not alone in this mess!
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed 3 weeks ago and still stuck in adjudication! It's so nerve-wracking not knowing what's happening or how much longer it will take. From what I've read online, it seems like restaurant layoffs sometimes take longer to process because they want to make sure it wasn't actually a firing for cause or something like that. The uncertainty is the worst part. Hang in there Brian - hopefully we'll both hear something soon!
@Anastasia Popov Thanks for sharing your experience! It s'definitely reassuring to know I m'not the only one dealing with this. The restaurant industry angle makes sense - I guess they want to make extra sure it wasn t'performance related or anything like that. The financial stress while waiting is really getting to me though. Are you also continuing to file your weekly claims while in adjudication? Hoping we both get good news soon!
Isabella Tucker
The NYS Department of Labor system is so unreliable! They process millions of claims but can't keep payment schedules consistent. I've had payments delayed, early, and sometimes split into weird amounts. There's probably some backend issue they're not telling anyone about.
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Jayden Hill
•I feel this so much. The uncertainty is the worst part when you're already struggling financially.
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Kiara Fisherman
Hey Camila, I totally understand your stress - rent deadlines don't wait for payment delays! If your payment status shows "payment processing" that's actually a good sign - it means your claim went through without issues and the payment is just working its way through the system. Sometimes there are delays on the banking side too, especially if there's a holiday or weekend involved. You might want to call your bank to see if there's a pending ACH deposit that just hasn't posted yet. In the meantime, if you're really in a bind with rent, consider reaching out to your landlord to explain the situation - most understand that government payments can be unpredictable.
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