


Ask the community...
I work for a workers' compensation attorney and see this situation frequently. Since you mentioned this was a work-related injury, you should definitely look into filing a workers' compensation claim if you haven't already. Workers' comp can provide additional benefits beyond short-term disability and may cover more of your lost wages. You might also be entitled to temporary total disability payments through workers' comp, which could be higher than your current 60%. The key is that workers' comp and disability benefits can sometimes be coordinated, and there may be legal protections for your job once you're ready to return. I'd strongly recommend consulting with a workers' comp attorney - most offer free consultations for work injuries.
This is really helpful advice! I didn't even think about workers' comp since my employer automatically put me on short-term disability. Should I file a workers' comp claim even though I'm already getting disability payments? And do you know if workers' comp would conflict with the disability benefits I'm currently receiving? I definitely want to explore this option if it could help with the financial gap.
Yes, you should absolutely file a workers' comp claim even while receiving short-term disability! In New York, you can often receive both simultaneously, though the total amount may be coordinated so you don't exceed 100% of your wages. Workers' comp typically pays 2/3 of your average weekly wage and there's no time limit like there is with short-term disability. The big advantage is that workers' comp also covers all your medical expenses related to the injury. Since your employer put you on disability first, they may be trying to avoid a workers' comp claim, but you have every right to file one for a work-related back injury. Don't wait too long though - there are deadlines for filing workers' comp claims in NY.
I went through something similar when I hurt my shoulder at my warehouse job two years ago. The short-term disability barely covered my rent, let alone everything else. What really helped me was applying for SNAP benefits (food stamps) and seeing if I qualified for any utility assistance programs through HEAP. My county also had an emergency assistance program that helped with one month of rent. It's not unemployment money, but these programs can really help stretch what you're getting from disability. Also, if you have any credit cards or loans, call them and explain your situation - many companies have hardship programs that can temporarily reduce or pause payments. Hang in there, the financial stress during disability is real but there are resources out there to help bridge the gap.
This is such practical advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about calling my creditors about hardship programs. I'm definitely going to look into SNAP and HEAP - every bit helps when you're trying to make ends meet on 60% pay. Did you find the application process for these programs difficult while you were dealing with your injury recovery? I'm worried about having the energy to navigate all the paperwork while I'm still in pain, but it sounds like it could make a real difference financially.
The application process wasn't too bad actually! For SNAP, you can apply online through myBenefits.ny.gov which saved me from having to go anywhere in person while I was recovering. HEAP applications can also be done online or over the phone in most counties. The hardest part was gathering all the documentation they needed (pay stubs, medical records, etc.) but once I had everything together it moved pretty quickly. Pro tip - if you call your local Department of Social Services and explain you're recovering from a work injury, they might be able to help you over the phone or even send someone to help with the application. Don't let the paperwork stress stop you from getting help you're entitled to!
medical coding is probably a good choice right now, lots of healthcare jobs. but definitely get the approval first like everyone is saying
I went through the training benefits process last year and wanted to share some tips that might help. First, the approval process Miguel asked about typically takes 2-3 weeks, so definitely apply before your program starts. Second, there are actually two main pathways - the Training Extension Benefits (TEB) that Zainab mentioned, and also Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was due to foreign trade impact. For medical coding specifically, that's usually approved since healthcare is a high-demand field. The key is to have all your paperwork ready - enrollment letter from the training provider, course curriculum, and evidence that it leads to employment in your area. Also, keep copies of everything because you'll need to submit progress reports to maintain your benefits.
This is really helpful info! I'm also considering a career change while on unemployment. When you mention keeping copies of everything and submitting progress reports, how often do those reports need to be submitted? And did you find the 2-3 week approval timeline was accurate in your experience? I'm looking at a cybersecurity program that starts in about a month, so timing is pretty crucial for me.
This thread has been a lifesaver! I just experienced the exact same thing - got 2 days instead of my usual 4 this week and was completely panicking. After reading everyone's experiences, I checked my messages and found a monetary redetermination notice from two days ago that I had completely overlooked. My maximum benefit amount increased by $420 and my weekly benefit went up by $38. It's such a relief to understand that the partial payment is just a quirk of how the system processes these recalculations. I was literally about to take time off work tomorrow to sit on hold with NYSDOL all day! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and confirmed that payments return to normal the following week with the higher amounts. This community knowledge is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official channels. I'll definitely be checking my messages more regularly going forward and will update next week to confirm everything goes back to normal with the increased benefit amount.
@Chloe Martin Welcome to the community! I m'so glad you found this thread before spending your day on hold with NYSDOL - that would have been such a waste of time for what turns out to be a normal part of the redetermination process. A $38 weekly increase is fantastic news! It s'really amazing how this thread has helped so many people who were going through the exact same panic. The fact that multiple people have confirmed their payments went back to normal the following week with higher amounts should give you complete peace of mind. Thanks for adding your experience to help future people who might stumble across this situation!
This thread has been so helpful for understanding what happens during monetary redeterminations! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where I got a partial payment this week, but reading through everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease. It's incredible how many people have gone through this exact same scenario - getting that initial panic from the reduced payment, then finding the buried redetermination notice in their messages, and ultimately having everything work out with higher benefits the following week. For anyone new to this situation, the pattern seems very consistent: partial payment during the recalculation week, followed by normal payments with increased amounts. The key is definitely checking that messages section thoroughly - these notices are way too easy to miss! I'm curious if anyone has figured out why the system processes payments this way during redeterminations. It seems like such an odd quirk that causes unnecessary stress for so many people. But regardless, I'm grateful for this community sharing their experiences so newcomers like me don't have to panic alone!
@Christian Bierman You re'absolutely right about the pattern being consistent! I ve'been lurking in this community for a while and have seen this exact scenario play out multiple times. From what I ve'observed, the partial payment during redetermination weeks seems to be a technical quirk of how their system handles the transition between old and new benefit calculations. I think what happens is the system has to pause "the" regular payment processing while it updates all the benefit amounts and recalculates everything, which results in that weird partial payment. It s'definitely not ideal from a user experience perspective, but at least now we know it s'normal! This thread should honestly be pinned somewhere for future reference - it s'probably the most comprehensive explanation of this process I ve'seen anywhere. Way more helpful than anything on the official NYSDOL site. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences to help newcomers navigate this confusing situation!
I'm actually a case worker who used to work with unemployment claims (different state though), and I can tell you that 10 days is pretty typical for the initial review phase. The NYS system has to verify your employment history, cross-reference wage records, and sometimes wait for employer responses. Since you filed due to company downsizing, that's actually one of the more straightforward scenarios - no fault determinations or complex separation issues to investigate. The good news is that once it's approved, you should receive back pay for all the weeks you've been waiting. Just keep certifying weekly if that option becomes available, even while it's under review.
That's really helpful to hear from someone with actual experience in the system! The back pay aspect is something I was wondering about - good to know that's how it works. I haven't seen any weekly certification options yet in my portal, but I'll keep an eye out for that. It's reassuring to know that company downsizing cases are typically more straightforward. Thanks for sharing your professional insight!
I went through this same process about 6 months ago and completely understand the anxiety of watching that "under review" status day after day. In my case, it took exactly 12 days before I got approved, and like you, I was laid off due to company restructuring. What really helped me was keeping a detailed record of everything - screenshots of my claim status, copies of all documents I submitted, and notes about any communications. When my benefits finally kicked in, I got the full back pay from my initial filing date. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but since you have a clear-cut layoff situation and provided all the documentation upfront, you're likely just in the normal processing queue. Try to stay patient - I know it's easier said than done when you're dealing with financial uncertainty!
Diego Rojas
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and it's been stuck in adjudication. From what I've learned reading through other posts here, it seems like the NYS Department of Labor is really backlogged and the "adjudication in progress" status usually means they're verifying something with your former employer or checking your eligibility. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when bills are piling up. Have you tried reaching out to your local assembly member's office? I've heard some people had luck getting their cases expedited that way when the normal phone lines weren't working.
0 coins
Jasmine Quinn
•That's a great suggestion about contacting your assembly member's office! I hadn't thought of that route. Do you happen to know how that process works? Like do you just call their office and explain the situation, or is there a specific procedure for unemployment issues? I'm getting really desperate at this point and willing to try anything that might help move things along.
0 coins
Rachel Clark
I'm going through the exact same thing right now - filed about 6 weeks ago and stuck in "adjudication in progress" with zero communication from NYS DOL. What's really frustrating is that they don't give you any timeline or explanation of what they're actually reviewing. I've been keeping detailed records of all my weekly certifications and any correspondence (or lack thereof) just in case. One thing that might help is checking if your former employer has responded to their inquiry - sometimes the delay is on their end and NYS DOL won't tell you that. Also, if you have any union representation or know someone who works in HR, they might have insights into how long these employer verification requests typically take. Hang in there - I know it's incredibly stressful when you're facing rent and bills with no income coming in.
0 coins