I had the same worry when I was job hunting after my layoff. Actually spent weeks stressing about it for no reason. Nobody ever brought it up or seemed to care. You're being way too hard on yourself - unemployment benefits are there for a reason and you paid into the system through your previous jobs.

I went through the exact same situation last year! I was so paranoid about potential employers finding out about my unemployment benefits that I almost didn't apply for certain positions. Turns out it was all in my head - not only can't they access those records, but most hiring managers I've talked to since actually respect candidates who were responsible enough to use the safety net while job searching rather than just taking any random job out of desperation. It shows you were being strategic about your career moves. Good luck with your interview!

UGH the whole system is such a mess! I missed my interview because they called at the wrong time - my notice said 3pm but they called at 2:30pm. When I called back they acted like it was MY fault. These people have NO accountability whatsoever.

Just to add - when you do get through to reschedule, ask them to note in your file that you had a medical emergency. Also request that they send you written confirmation of the new interview date and time. Sometimes there are communication issues and you want everything documented.

been there done that with partial benefits last year when covid hit my restaurant job. honestly saved my butt financially. just be super careful about reporting your earnings accurately each week or you'll end up with an overpayment mess to deal with later

@Natasha Kuznetsova - I went through this exact situation last year when my retail hours got slashed. The application process is straightforward through my.ny.gov, but here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: when you certify weekly, be 100% accurate about your work days and earnings. Even small mistakes can trigger overpayment issues later. Also, keep detailed records of everything - your work schedule, pay stubs, and all correspondence with DOL. The partial benefits really do help bridge that income gap while you're looking for additional work or waiting for your hours to pick back up. You've got this!

Just be completely honest when you file. Include both the restructuring reason from your termination letter AND mention the performance warning. Let NYS Department of Labor sort it out during adjudication if your employer contests it. The worst thing you can do is leave out important details that they'll discover anyway.

I had a very similar situation a few months ago - got laid off during "restructuring" but had received some performance feedback earlier. Here's what I learned: NYS Department of Labor cares more about the immediate cause of separation than past performance issues. If your termination letter says position eliminated due to restructuring, that's usually considered involuntary separation through no fault of your own. The performance warning from a month ago probably won't disqualify you unless it was for serious misconduct. When you file, mention both - the restructuring reason and the prior warning - but emphasize that the official reason was budget cuts/restructuring. This shows you're being transparent while making it clear the separation wasn't performance-based. Most importantly, file as soon as possible since there's a waiting period anyway.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Been trying since early morning and keep getting the "system unavailable" message. It's really reassuring to see I'm not the only one and that there are solutions. Based on everyone's advice, I'm going to try again this afternoon using incognito mode and maybe the mobile app if the website still doesn't work. Thanks for posting this question - the responses have been super helpful! It's good to know we have until Saturday to file, that definitely takes the pressure off.

I've been filing unemployment claims in NY for about 6 months now and can confirm what others are saying about the system being more stable in the afternoon/evening. What really helped me was setting up a routine - I always file between 3-5pm and rarely have issues during those hours. One thing I'd add is to make sure your browser is fully updated, as I noticed older browser versions sometimes have compatibility issues with the my.ny.gov site. Also, if you're using any browser extensions or ad blockers, try disabling them temporarily as they can sometimes interfere with the login process. Don't worry about missing your deadline - you really do have until Saturday night, and the stress isn't worth it when there are so many hours left to successfully file!