I had this happen to me twice last year and both times it was exactly 24 hours from when the lockout occurred. The system is pretty strict about it - I tried logging in at 23 hours and 50 minutes and it still said locked, but right at the 24 hour mark it let me back in. One thing to keep in mind is that even if you miss your certification deadline due to the lockout, you can usually call the claims center to explain the technical issue and they'll allow you to certify late without penalty. I had to do this once and they were understanding about system problems. Document the exact time your account got locked so you know when to try again!

I actually work for a company that helps people navigate these government systems, and I can confirm that the 24-hour lockout is standard for failed login attempts on my.ny.gov. However, I'd recommend trying the password reset option first before waiting the full 24 hours - it often bypasses the lockout immediately. If that doesn't work and you can't get through to tech support, you might also try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then using a different browser entirely. Sometimes the lockout is tied to your browser session rather than just your account. Also, pro tip: when you do get back in, write down your login info somewhere secure so this doesn't happen again during a stressful week!

I just wanted to jump in here as someone who successfully navigated this process about 6 months ago. My situation was almost identical - retail job, hours cut from 35 to 12 per week. The documentation everyone is mentioning is absolutely critical. What really helped my case was creating a timeline document that showed: 1) My original hiring terms and typical schedule, 2) When the hour cuts started and how dramatic they were, 3) Every attempt I made to resolve it (with dates and follow-up emails), and 4) How the reduced income made the job financially unsustainable. I waited about 3 weeks after my final conversation with management before quitting to show I gave them reasonable time to address it. The NYS Department of Labor adjudicator specifically mentioned that my thorough documentation and evidence of good faith efforts to resolve the issue were key factors in approving my claim. It took about 4 weeks total to get approved, but it was worth the wait. Don't let the horror stories discourage you - just be methodical about building your case before you make any moves.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! My hours at a coffee shop got cut from around 32 to maybe 14 per week about three weeks ago. Reading through everyone's experiences here, especially @Jamal Brown and @Savannah Vin's success stories, has been so helpful and gives me hope that this might actually work. I've started keeping screenshots of my schedules and I'm planning to have a formal conversation with my manager this week about restoring my hours. The documentation advice everyone is sharing seems crucial - I'm going to start keeping a detailed log of everything. Has anyone dealt with a situation where management says the hour cuts are temporary due to "slow business" but then weeks go by with no improvement? I'm worried they'll just keep stringing me along while I can barely afford groceries. The financial stress is really getting to me but I want to make sure I handle this the right way if I decide to quit and file for unemployment.

Just stopped mine last month when I started a new job. Everything worked out fine when I reactivated it 4 weeks later after the job ended. Just make sure you keep track of any work you do during the gap because they will ask about it.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago. You can definitely stop certifying and restart later - your claim won't disappear immediately. But here's what I learned the hard way: if you do get that part-time job, you're better off continuing to certify and reporting the hours/earnings rather than stopping completely. NYS allows you to work part-time and still collect partial benefits, and it keeps your claim active. When I stopped for 5 weeks and then restarted, they asked a lot of questions about what I was doing during the gap, and the whole reactivation process was more of a hassle than just staying active would have been. Plus you maintain your job search contacts requirement even when not certifying.

The NYS Department of Labor system is so frustrating for seasonal workers! They act like everyone has a regular 9-5 job year round. I've been dealing with this for five years and every winter it's the same hassle trying to prove I'm eligible.

I went through this exact same situation working seasonal roofing jobs! One tip that really helped me - when you file your initial claim, make sure to mention that your layoff is due to seasonal weather conditions. NYS DOL has specific provisions for weather-related layoffs in construction and outdoor work. Also, keep any documentation from your employer about the seasonal layoff (like that notice about December 15th being your last day) - it can help if there are any questions about your eligibility. The whole process was actually smoother than I expected once I got started.

The whole partial unemployment thing is such a nightmare with NYS Department of Labor. I've been dealing with this for months and they keep changing how much they deduct from my benefits. Sometimes I think they just make it complicated on purpose to discourage people from filing claims.

I went through something similar last year with NYS Department of Labor. The key thing to remember is that you need to report your reduced hours as "part-time work" on your weekly claim, not as residual pay. Residual pay is specifically for things like final vacation payouts or severance after you've completely separated from employment. Since you're still getting some hours (even if it's just 4 per week), you're considered partially unemployed. Make sure to report those earnings exactly - don't round up or down. The system will automatically calculate your partial benefit amount. Also keep all your pay stubs as documentation in case they audit your claim later.