The whole system is ridiculous if you ask me. They make you jump through hoops to get unemployment benefits when you're already struggling, then they tax you on it like it's some kind of bonus income. Meanwhile rich people get tax breaks for their investments. Sorry for the rant but this stuff makes me so angry.

same here, got my 1099-G last week and now I owe like $900 in taxes 😭

From my experience working in HR before switching careers, I'd estimate employees win unemployment appeals around 40-50% of the time when they have solid documentation like you do. The fact that you have a company-wide email about budget cuts is huge - that directly contradicts their misconduct claim. NYS Department of Labor judges are pretty good at spotting when employers are trying to avoid paying unemployment costs. Make sure to organize all your evidence chronologically and practice explaining your timeline clearly. You've got a strong case!

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago - employer claimed misconduct when it was really downsizing. Won my appeal after a 3-month process. The key things that helped me: 1) I had the layoff announcement email (sounds like you have this too!), 2) performance reviews from the past year showing good standing, and 3) I stayed calm and factual during the hearing. The judge asked about the timeline of events, why I thought I was laid off vs fired for cause, and what documentation I had. Your company-wide budget cuts email is golden evidence - that alone should be enough to show their misconduct claim is bogus. Don't stress too much, you seem well-prepared!

Just want to add that sometimes they'll ask for your 'UI number' which is the same thing as your unemployment claim number. Don't let the different terminology confuse you - UI just stands for Unemployment Insurance.

Another thing that helped me was checking my online account dashboard - all your important numbers are usually displayed there once you log in. I bookmark that page because it has my claim confirmation number, benefit year dates, and weekly benefit amount all in one place. Much easier than digging through emails when you need to reference something quickly.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! My benefit year ends next month and I'm also working part-time. I'm super nervous about having to start over with a new claim... Did you end up filing yet? How did it go? I'm worried they'll calculate my benefits differently and I'll get less money.

Quick update based on the 2025 rules: When filing a new claim after expiration while working part-time, make sure to have the following ready: 1. Accurate records of all part-time earnings (weekly breakdown) 2. Documentation of your work search activities (even while working part-time) 3. Your current employer's information 4. Any separation documents from previous employers The new monetary determination will be based on your earnings during the base period, so your weekly benefit amount may change depending on how much you've been earning at your part-time job.

I work in HR and see this happen occasionally. As long as you contact NYS Department of Labor promptly and haven't received any benefit payments, it's usually a non-issue. Your employer might get a notice but most understand that people explore their options during uncertain times.

I went through this same exact situation about 6 months ago! Filed by mistake when I thought I was getting laid off, then my manager called me back for reduced hours. I was panicking thinking I'd get in trouble. Called NYS DOL and explained - they were actually pretty understanding about it. The rep told me it happens more than you'd think. They just marked my claim as "voluntarily withdrawn" and that was it. No issues with my employer either, they barely mentioned the notification they got. Don't stress too much about it, just call them ASAP and be honest about the mistake.