I'm going through the exact same thing right now - claim has been on hold for 3 weeks with just "adjudication in progress" showing. What's really frustrating is that they don't give you any indication of what they're even reviewing or how much longer it might take. I've been keeping detailed records of all my job search activities and filing my weekly claims like everyone suggests, but it's nerve-wracking not knowing when (or if) the money will come through. Has anyone had luck contacting their local unemployment office directly instead of the main state line? Wondering if that might be easier to get through to.

I'm in week 4 of adjudication hell myself and completely understand your anxiety about rent. What helped me was contacting my local legal aid society - they have advocates who specialize in unemployment issues and can sometimes intervene on your behalf with NYS DOL. Also, if you're facing eviction, reach out to your county's rental assistance programs ASAP while you're waiting for benefits to come through. Most have emergency funds specifically for people waiting on unemployment decisions. Don't wait until you're behind on rent to apply - the paperwork takes time to process too.

Also check if your employer has FMLA obligations - if they have 50+ employees and you've worked there a year, they might have been required to offer you unpaid leave or schedule accommodations for family caregiving. If they violated FMLA by not even considering accommodations, that strengthens your unemployment case even more. Document that they didn't offer any alternatives before you quit!

This is such a tough situation but you're not alone! I went through something similar caring for my mom. NY does recognize "compelling family circumstances" as good cause for quitting. Key things that helped my case: 1) I documented every attempt to get reasonable accommodations from my employer 2) Got a letter from my mom's doctor explaining her care needs and my role as primary caregiver 3) Showed the substantial change in my work schedule made it impossible to provide necessary care. The initial claim was denied but I appealed with all my documentation and won. Don't give up if they deny you at first - the appeals process is where having solid documentation really pays off. Wishing you the best! 💙

File your claim ASAP! Don't wait. Age is absolutely not a factor. I see this misconception a lot - people think there's some magic cutoff at 65 but that's not how unemployment insurance works in NY. You paid into the system, you're entitled to benefits if you qualify based on work history and circumstances of job loss.

I went through this exact situation last year at age 66 when my manufacturing job was eliminated. Filed my unemployment claim online through the NYS DOL website and had zero issues related to my age. The process was straightforward - just needed my employment history and reason for separation. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying for benefits you've earned! The only requirements are work history, being unemployed through no fault of your own, and being able and available to work. Age discrimination in unemployment benefits would actually be illegal. Get your claim started as soon as possible since there can be waiting periods.

Just wanted to add that if you're using QuickBooks or similar payroll software, make sure it's updated with the correct 2025 wage base. I had an issue earlier this year where my software was still using the previous year's settings and it threw off our calculations. Most payroll systems should auto-update but it's worth double-checking, especially if you're doing manual calculations or using older software versions.

One thing to keep in mind is that the $12,000 wage base applies per calendar year, not per pay period or quarter. So if you hire someone mid-year, you still only pay unemployment tax on their first $12,000 of wages for that calendar year, regardless of when they started. This can be helpful for budgeting if you're bringing on seasonal workers or have high turnover. Also, make sure you're tracking this separately for each employee - it's not a total across all employees, but per individual worker.

The NYS Department of Labor job search requirement is such a hassle! I understand why they need it but having to track everything when you're already stressed about being unemployed is frustrating. At least they don't make you submit it every week like some states do.

I've been using a simple Google Doc to track my job search activities and it works great! I set up columns for date, company name, position, contact method, and any follow-up actions needed. Since it's in the cloud I can access it from anywhere and it's easy to search if I need to find something specific. The key is being consistent about logging everything right after you do it - don't wait until the end of the week or you'll forget details.