same situation here, small business owner trying to figure this all out. thanks for asking the question!

For anyone else dealing with this, I'd recommend keeping a detailed spreadsheet tracking each employee's wages throughout the year so you know exactly when they hit the $12,300 threshold. I also set up quarterly reminders to review the wage base calculations before filing. The NYS Department of Labor Form NYS-45 instructions are actually pretty helpful once you get through all the legal language - they have examples of what counts and what doesn't.

Before you quit, also consider consulting with an employment attorney. Some offer free consultations and they can advise whether your situation might qualify for other legal remedies beyond just unemployment benefits. Sometimes having attorney documentation can also help with your NYS Department of Labor claim.

I've been through a similar situation and want to emphasize that timing is crucial here. Don't rush into quitting - build your case methodically first. Start documenting everything TODAY (dates, times, witnesses, exact quotes if possible). File that HR complaint in writing and keep copies. Also check if your company has an anonymous hotline or ombudsman. NYS Department of Labor will look at whether you made reasonable efforts to resolve the situation internally before quitting. The stronger your paper trail, the better your chances during adjudication. It's frustrating to stay in a toxic environment longer, but those extra weeks of documentation could make the difference between getting benefits or not.

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!

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! 💪

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