I'm a new mom who went through this exact situation in NY just 8 months ago! Reading through all these responses brings back so many memories of the stress and confusion. I want to add one more piece of advice that really helped me: when you do get through to speak with someone at NYSDOL, ask them to put notes in your file about what they told you. Sometimes different representatives give conflicting information, and having official notes in your case file can prevent issues later if someone else reviews your claim. Also, I see people mentioning the Claimyr service - I used it too and it was a lifesaver. Just make sure when you do connect with an agent through any method that you clearly explain your situation as "my employer permanently filled my position while I was on approved medical leave" rather than leading with "I had a baby." The framing really matters for how they categorize your claim. One last thing - if you end up having to appeal a decision (hopefully you won't!), consider reaching out to your local legal aid society. Many have employment law volunteers who can help with unemployment appeals at no cost. You've got this, and congratulations on your little one! The bureaucracy is frustrating but you deserve these benefits.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! As a new mom myself (baby is 7 weeks old), I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed and helpful advice. I'm in a very similar situation - my employer hired someone permanent while I was on unpaid leave, and I've been so confused about whether I could qualify for unemployment benefits. Reading through all these experiences has been eye-opening. The key points I'm taking away are: 1) Frame it as "lack of work" since my position was eliminated, not as leaving for personal reasons, 2) Make sure I have medical clearance to work before filing, 3) Document everything including job applications and communications with my employer, and 4) Be persistent with the system whether calling early morning or using services like Claimyr. What really struck me is how many of us are dealing with the exact same situation but didn't know our rights. It's frustrating that this information isn't more readily available, especially when new parents are already overwhelmed. The fact sheet mentioned by Jay and the professional confirmation from Zara give me so much more confidence that this is a legitimate claim. I'm planning to file my application this week using all the strategies shared here. This community has turned what felt like an impossible bureaucratic nightmare into a manageable process with clear steps. Thank you all for being so generous with your time and knowledge - you're helping so many families during a really challenging time!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I just went through this exact same thing yesterday - been certifying weekly since February with zero issues, then suddenly the system is asking about a "break in claim" and wanting employer info that makes no sense. I was convinced I'd somehow messed up my account until I found all these comments. It's crazy how widespread this glitch is but NYSDOL still hasn't put up any official notice about it. I entered my last employer's EIN like everyone suggested, so fingers crossed my payment just gets delayed a few days instead of causing bigger problems. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - knowing it's not just me has reduced my stress so much!

This exact same thing just happened to me this morning! I've been certifying every week since January without any issues, then boom - suddenly I'm getting all these questions about a "break in claim" that never happened. It was asking for my return to work date and employer EIN, which made absolutely no sense since I'm still unemployed and have been consistently certifying every single week. I was totally freaking out thinking I'd somehow messed up my claim or missed something important. This thread has been such a huge relief - knowing it's a widespread system glitch and not something I did wrong. I ended up entering my last employer's information like everyone else suggested. Really hoping my payment just gets delayed a few days instead of causing any major issues with my claim. It's honestly so frustrating that NYSDOL hasn't put up any kind of official notice about this glitch on their website. Would save so many people the panic and confusion! Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community thread has been way more helpful than anything on the official NYSDOL site.

The whole paper check system is so outdated!!! Why can't they just do instant transfers like every other modern system? I've been waiting 12 days for mine and still nothing. This is ridiculous in 2025.

One thing to keep in mind - if you switched payment methods mid-week or after certifying, the change might not take effect until your next certification period. Double-check in your my.ny.gov account under 'Payment Information' to make sure the paper check option is actually showing as active.

Just want to add that restaurant workers sometimes have issues with tip reporting affecting their wage records. Make sure all your tips were properly reported to the NYS Department of Labor through your employer's payroll system, otherwise your base period wages might be lower than expected.

@Mei Zhang definitely file as soon as possible! I went through this same situation a few months ago and was also worried about qualifying. The earnings-based system actually works in your favor - $18,000 over 8 months is way above the $2,700 minimum. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to certify for benefits weekly and actively look for work. The NYS Department of Labor website has a step-by-step guide for filing your initial claim. Don't let the delay stress you too much - I know people who filed months later and still got approved. The important thing is getting started now!

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this recently! Had the "determining benefits" status for exactly 12 days before getting approved. During that time I was checking the portal like 5 times a day lol. One thing I learned - they actually update the system overnight, so I found checking first thing in the morning was the best time to see any changes. Also got a text notification when my status finally updated to approved, so make sure you have notifications turned on! The waiting is definitely stressful but from what I've seen here and from my own experience, getting to the "determining benefits" stage is actually a really good sign. Hang in there! 💪

Just want to chime in as someone who recently went through this whole process! I was in "determining benefits" status for about 2 weeks and it was driving me crazy checking the portal every day. But I did get approved eventually! One thing that helped me was calling the DOL directly - took forever to get through but the agent was able to confirm that my application was progressing normally and that the status meant they were just calculating my benefit amount. She told me as long as I didn't get any requests for additional documents, it was likely going to be approved. Also want to echo what others said about having your employment docs ready just in case. I had my W2s and last few paystubs saved on my phone so I could upload them quickly if needed. The waiting absolutely sucks but try not to stress too much - sounds like you're in a good spot! Keep certifying weekly and hopefully you'll see that approval soon 🤞