I'm also navigating this same situation and wanted to add my experience from when I researched this extensively a few months ago. I ended up speaking with three different NYS DOL representatives (through Claimyr - totally worth it) and they all gave me consistent guidance: evening or weekend classes are generally fine as long as you can demonstrate you're still "able and available" for full-time work. What really helped me was creating a simple document outlining my class schedule, job search plan, and how I'd handle any conflicts - I never needed to submit it, but having it organized helped me feel confident when reporting school attendance on my weekly claims. I also discovered that NYS DOL actually has a specific provision for "approved training" that can sometimes waive the work search requirement entirely, though that's typically for state-funded programs. For regular college classes like you're considering, the key is just maintaining that work availability and being transparent. The fact that you're thinking about this proactively shows you're approaching it responsibly. I'd definitely recommend that call to NYS DOL first - it takes the guesswork out of the equation and gives you official guidance for your specific situation.

I'm in a very similar situation and this entire thread has been incredibly reassuring! I've been on UI for about 5 weeks and was really hesitant about enrolling in evening business classes because I was worried about jeopardizing my benefits. After reading everyone's real-world experiences, I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward. The consistent advice about transparency, maintaining work availability during business hours, and keeping detailed records seems to be the winning formula. I'm particularly encouraged by stories from people like @CosmicCowboy and @Ava Garcia who not only managed both successfully but actually found their new skills helped during interviews. I'm looking at a supply chain management certificate program that meets Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-9 PM, which would leave me completely available during business hours. The program is directly relevant to jobs I'm applying for in logistics and operations. Planning to follow everyone's advice about calling NYS DOL first (definitely using that Claimyr service), being completely honest on weekly certifications, and keeping screenshots of all my job applications with timestamps. It's amazing how this community has turned what felt like a risky decision into a strategic career move. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences!

This is such a relief to see that you got it resolved! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - missed certifying two weeks ago because I was in the hospital and just realized my claim shows "break in claim" status. Your experience gives me hope that I can get this fixed quickly too. Did the agent ask for any specific documentation about your illness, or was mentioning the doctor's visit enough? I have my hospital discharge papers if that would help my case.

I'm dealing with a break in claim situation too and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I missed certifying two weeks ago because I was caring for my sick elderly mother and completely forgot. Reading about everyone's experiences gives me hope that I can get this resolved. Does anyone know if caring for a family member during a medical emergency would qualify for backdating, or is it mainly just for your own medical issues? I have some documentation from her doctor visits if that would help. Planning to try calling tomorrow but wanted to see if anyone has been in a similar caregiving situation.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - losing childcare suddenly is such a stressful situation, especially as a single mom. Based on everything shared in this thread, it definitely sounds like you have a strong case for unemployment benefits since NYS Department of Labor does recognize lack of affordable childcare as "good cause" for quitting. The documentation advice everyone has given is spot on - start gathering all those emails and records from daycares immediately if you haven't already. Create that spreadsheet tracking every place you contact with dates, costs, and responses. Also calculate what percentage of your income the available childcare would cost - if it's over 50-60% of your take-home pay, that really strengthens your case that working wouldn't be financially sustainable. Don't let the complexity of the process discourage you from applying. Yes, it takes several weeks for adjudication, but benefits get backdated once approved. You're not trying to game the system - you literally cannot work without childcare, and that's a reality New York recognizes when properly documented. Apply as soon as possible and stay strong during the process!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly stressful situation! As a working parent myself, I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel to suddenly lose your childcare with no affordable alternatives available. Based on all the experiences shared in this thread, it really sounds like you have a legitimate case for unemployment benefits - NYS Department of Labor does recognize lack of affordable childcare as "good cause" for quitting when you can prove you've exhausted all reasonable options. The documentation strategies everyone has outlined here are absolutely crucial. I'd definitely recommend creating that detailed spreadsheet to track every daycare and childcare provider you contact - include the date, cost, availability, waiting list status, and why each option wasn't feasible. Also calculate what percentage of your take-home pay the available options would cost - anything over 50-60% really strengthens your case that working wouldn't be financially sustainable. Don't let the complexity of the application process discourage you from applying. Yes, adjudication can take several weeks, but the benefits do get backdated once approved. You're not trying to game the system - you literally cannot work without reliable, affordable childcare, and that's a reality that New York state recognizes when properly documented. Apply as soon as possible since there's usually a waiting week before benefits can begin. You deserve support during this difficult transition while you work toward finding a sustainable childcare solution. Stay strong - you've got this!

Good luck! These hearings are stressful but totally winnable if you have your documentation together.

I just went through this process a few months ago and won my case! Here's what really helped me: 1) Practice explaining your case out loud beforehand - you'll be nervous and it helps to have rehearsed your key points. 2) Have a simple outline written down with your main arguments and the order you want to present them. 3) When they ask about the "misconduct," focus on the specific policy they claim you violated and whether you actually received proper training or warning about it. 4) Most importantly for retaliation cases - be very clear about the exact dates. When did you file the safety complaint vs when did disciplinary actions start? That timeline gap is crucial evidence. The hearing officers are actually pretty fair in my experience, they just want to understand what really happened.

I'm in a similar boat and was worried about this too. From what I've researched, the NYS Department of Labor website actually has a section on "other income" that mentions selling personal property usually doesn't count as wages if it's stuff you already owned. The tricky part is they want you to report ANY income over $405 per week, but selling your own belongings typically falls under "liquidating assets" not "earning income." I'd suggest keeping receipts showing what you originally paid for items if you have them, just to prove you're not making a profit. Also maybe don't sell everything at once - spread it out over a few weeks to avoid any red flags.

I went through this exact situation a few months ago! Sold my old gaming console, some books, and kitchen appliances I wasn't using. The key thing I learned is that NYS considers it "liquidating personal assets" rather than income as long as you're selling items you already owned before filing for unemployment. I kept a simple list of what I sold and roughly what I originally paid for each item (didn't need exact receipts for everything). The $200-300 range you're talking about shouldn't be an issue at all - I sold about $400 worth of stuff over 2 months with no problems. Just avoid making it look like a regular business activity and you should be fine. The stress of worrying about it was way worse than actually doing it!