Just to add - if you do elect coverage, you need to file the application within 30 days of starting your business, or within 30 days of deciding you want coverage. Don't wait too long to make this decision!

I've been self-employed for 2 years and went through this same confusion! Here's what I learned: the elective coverage costs about 0.5% of your reported earnings (so if you report $50k, you'd pay around $250 annually). You have to pay into it for at least one full quarter before you can collect benefits, and you need to meet the same earnings requirements as regular employees. The tricky part is you have to report your earnings quarterly and pay the taxes even if you haven't been paid by clients yet. I decided it was worth it for the peace of mind, especially since freelance work can be unpredictable. Just make sure to keep good records of all your business income if you sign up!

I was in a similar situation last year - went from freelancing to a full-time job. Had trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to check my eligibility after getting laid off 8 months later. Ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of trying to call myself.

just to add - even though you don't pay unemployment tax as self employed, you might want to consider if there are any other benefits you're missing out on. like workers comp, disability insurance, etc. the whole benefits package can be pretty different between 1099 and W2

I was in almost the exact same situation last year - making $780/week when I got laid off. Like others mentioned, the benefit calculation isn't straightforward but I ended up getting about $375/week. One thing I wish I'd known is that you can actually do a rough estimate yourself: they typically take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then apply the benefit formula (around 50% but varies). Also worth noting that benefits are taxable, so factor that in when budgeting. The good news is that at your income level, unemployment should cover most basic expenses, though you'll definitely need to tighten the belt a bit. Start organizing your paperwork now like others suggested - having everything ready makes the application process much smoother!

The base period lag that @Misterclamation Skyblue mentioned is really important to understand! I learned this the hard way when I filed - had gotten a nice promotion 2 months before getting laid off but none of those higher earnings counted because of the base period rules. Also wanted to add that New York has something called an "Alternate Base Period" if your regular base period doesn't qualify you or gives you a really low benefit amount. It uses more recent quarters including some of your most recent earnings. Definitely worth asking about if your initial calculation seems off. The whole system is designed to be conservative and use established earning patterns rather than your absolute most recent pay, which can be frustrating but does provide some stability in the calculation.

The texting option is completely useless tbh. Been waiting 2 weeks for a response

So frustrating! I've been dealing with the same issue for almost a month now. What really gets me is that they keep saying to "try again later" but there's never actually a good time to call. I did finally get some movement by filing a complaint through the NY DOL website - at least got an email confirmation that way. Also heard from a friend that some local unemployment offices are doing in-person appointments again, might be worth checking if there's one near you. Hang in there everyone, this system is broken but we gotta keep pushing through! 💪

Just remember you still have to do your weekly claims and job search requirements even if the amount seems low. NYS Department of Labor requires 3 job contacts per week minimum and you have to log them all.

The system is so confusing! I thought it would be way more straightforward but there's all these rules about base periods and quarters. Why can't they just give you a percentage of your last paycheck?