From my experience, employers have multiple opportunities to dispute claims throughout the process. The initial 10-day window is just the beginning - they can contest during adjudication, file appeals, and even request overpayment recovery later if they claim new evidence of misconduct. However, since you have clear documentation of a layoff due to restructuring and received severance, you're in a strong position. The key is that legitimate layoffs are much harder for employers to successfully dispute compared to terminations for cause. Just keep all your paperwork organized and respond promptly if NYS DOL requests any information from you.

Just went through this exact situation last month! My employer had 10 business days to respond to the initial claim, but they can actually dispute it much later too. What really matters is that you have that severance paperwork stating it was due to restructuring - that's golden. I'd recommend setting up text alerts through the NYS DOL website so you get notified immediately if there are any changes to your claim status. That way if they do try to dispute it later, you'll know right away and can respond quickly. Since it was a legitimate layoff with documentation, you're in a much better position than someone who got fired for cause.

I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago - waited almost 2 months to file because I thought I'd find something quickly. Big mistake! NY DOL was pretty firm that they don't backdate for "I didn't know I should file right away" situations. However, I did manage to get ONE extra week backdated because I had saved a screenshot of a website error I got when I first tried to file (even though I gave up and didn't try again for weeks). So if you have ANY documentation of technical issues, website crashes, or even confusing information you received, gather it all before calling. The harsh reality is that most of those 3 months are probably lost, but it's still worth that phone call with whatever documentation you can pull together. Good luck!

I'm in a similar boat - just filed my claim after waiting 2 months thinking I'd land something fast. From everything I'm reading here, it sounds like NY is pretty strict about not backdating unless you have one of those specific qualifying reasons. One thing that might help though - when you call, ask specifically about the "continuous claim" option if you had ANY interaction with their system during those 3 months. Sometimes even just creating an online account or starting an application (even if you didn't complete it) can establish an earlier effective date. Also, double-check if your employer provided any severance or continued benefits during November-December. Sometimes people don't realize they're not technically "unemployed" in the system's eyes if they received certain types of compensation. Worth a shot to call with whatever documentation you can gather, but definitely manage expectations based on what everyone else is saying here.

Been there, it sucks but you'll be fine. Just make sure when you file weekly claims you're actively looking for work because NYS Department of Labor requires job search activities. Keep a log of where you apply. And if you have trouble getting through to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor about your claim, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an agent quickly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling busy phone lines.

ugh the whole unemployment system is such a nightmare to navigate even when you ARE eligible. I was laid off last year and it took WEEKS to get my first payment because of some stupid adjudication hold that nobody could explain to me. Good luck getting anyone on the phone at NYS Department of Labor!

I had this exact same confusion when I first got my monetary determination letter! The "net $384" definitely means they're already withholding the 10% federal taxes you opted for during your application. Your gross weekly benefit amount is likely around $427, with approximately $43 being withheld for federal taxes. What really helped me understand this was logging into my NY.gov account and going to "View Payment History" - it shows a clear breakdown of each payment with gross amount, tax withholding, and your net payment. This way you can see exactly where every dollar goes. One important thing to remember: when you get your 1099-G tax form next January, it will show the GROSS amount of all benefits paid (not the net), so make sure to keep records of how much tax was withheld throughout the year. You'll need those numbers when filing your tax return. The $384 is what you should budget for each week - it's smart that you chose the tax withholding option since unemployment benefits are fully taxable income. Much better to have it taken out now than face a big surprise bill next April!

I went through the exact same confusion with my monetary determination letter! That "net $384" definitely means they're already withholding the 10% federal taxes you selected during your application. Your gross benefit is probably around $427 before the tax deduction. What really cleared things up for me was logging into my NY.gov unemployment account and checking the payment details section - it shows the breakdown of gross amount, federal tax withheld, and your actual net payment. This way you can see exactly what's happening with your money each week. The $384 is what you should budget for - that's your take-home amount after taxes. You made the right choice with the automatic withholding since unemployment benefits are fully taxable. I learned this the hard way when a friend didn't opt for withholding and ended up owing over $1,000 at tax time! Also, keep good records of your payments because when you get your 1099-G next January, it'll show the gross amount (not net), and you'll need to account for the taxes that were already withheld throughout the year.

yeah this happened to my cousin but it was real, turned out his old employer reported something wrong about his work dates and they needed to fix his records

I work as a customer service rep and deal with unemployment fraud calls daily - this sounds like a classic scam attempt. Real DOL calls usually come after you've filed a claim or they've sent written notice first. Since you're employed and haven't filed recently, I'd bet money this is fraudulent. Scammers often use spoofed local numbers to seem legit. Don't call the number back from the voicemail - instead, log into your NY.gov account or call the official DOL number directly to check if there's any actual issue with your account.