I'm 65 and was in almost the exact same situation as Diego about a year ago - got laid off from my job at a food processing plant after 12 years and had been collecting Social Security for about 4 months at that point. I can confirm you absolutely CAN collect both benefits simultaneously in New York! When I filed my initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, I was completely upfront about my Social Security income and the representative told me it wouldn't be a problem at all. She actually said they see this situation quite frequently with people in their 60s. The most important thing is demonstrating that you're genuinely able and available for work - they asked me specific questions about my physical capabilities, what shifts I could work, and what types of positions I was willing to consider. On the weekly claims, I report my gross Social Security amount (before Medicare deductions) in the "other income" section, but it doesn't reduce my unemployment benefits at all since Social Security isn't considered work income. I kept detailed records of all my job search activities using a simple notebook - applications, networking events, interviews - since NYS requires 3 work search activities per week. I successfully collected both for about 9 months until I found a part-time position that worked for my schedule. Don't hesitate to file Diego - you earned both benefits through decades of work and contributions to these systems!

I'm 63 and was in almost this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my logistics job. You can absolutely collect both Social Security and unemployment benefits in New York! I was really nervous about it at first because I'd heard conflicting information too, but when I filed my initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, I was completely honest about my Social Security income and they told me it wouldn't be an issue at all. The agent actually said they see this quite often with people in their 60s. The key thing is you need to genuinely be able and available for work - they'll ask you about your availability, what types of jobs you're willing to take, etc. On your weekly claims, you report your gross Social Security amount in the "other income" section, but it doesn't reduce your unemployment benefits. Just make sure you keep good records of your job search activities since they require 3 work search activities per week. I collected both for about 5 months until I found part-time work. Don't let the conflicting advice from friends discourage you - file your claim! You paid into both systems and you're entitled to these benefits.

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I've been stuck with the same messaging system error for almost 3 weeks now and was starting to panic about my pending claim. I'm definitely going to try the incognito browser method that @Zainab Omar suggested first since so many people have had success with it. If that doesn't work, I'll try the early morning calling strategy at 8:03 AM like @Zoe Wang confirmed works. It's crazy that we need so many workarounds just to contact them, but I'm really grateful everyone is sharing what actually works. I'll also keep the backup options like contacting my assemblymember's office and the Comptroller's complaint form in my back pocket if needed. Has anyone tried using different browsers entirely (like switching from Chrome to Firefox) instead of just incognito mode?

I've been dealing with this exact same messaging system error for the past month and it's been absolutely maddening! Thank you all for sharing these solutions - this thread is incredibly helpful. I'm going to try @Aaron Lee's suggestion about switching browsers first since that seems like the quickest fix, then move on to @Zainab Omar's incognito method if needed. The fact that @Zoe Wang confirmed the early morning calling strategy actually works gives me hope too. It's honestly shameful that the NYS DOL has such a broken system when people are depending on these benefits to survive. I'll also screenshot all these error messages like @Elijah Jackson suggested in case I need to escalate this further. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share what worked for them!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in almost the exact same boat - laid off in January, collecting UI, and just got news that my workers comp settlement from a shoulder injury at my previous job (2019) should finalize next month for around $12,000. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! It sounds like the golden rule is: report it transparently when you receive the actual payment, use clear language like "Workers compensation settlement - injury from previous employer [year]", and don't stress about it since it's compensating for past medical costs and lost wages from a completely different employment period. The fact that multiple people here have gone through this exact scenario with settlements ranging from $15K-$22K and had zero issues with their benefits really puts my mind at ease. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when you can't get through to NYS Department of Labor directly!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - got laid off in October and have been collecting UI benefits, and I just found out my workers comp case from a wrist injury at my old manufacturing job (2020) is finally settling for about $14,000. I've been so worried about how this would affect my unemployment benefits, but reading everyone's experiences here has really eased my anxiety. It's clear that the key factors are: 1) it's from a different employer, 2) it's compensating for an injury from years ago, and 3) you need to report it transparently when you receive the actual payment. I love the suggested wording everyone's been using - "Workers compensation settlement - injury from previous employer [year]" - that's exactly what I'll use when I certify next week. It's so reassuring to see multiple people with settlement amounts ranging from $12K to $22K report zero issues with their benefits. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making this much less stressful than it could have been!

I'm dealing with this EXACT same issue and it's driving me absolutely insane! Been trying to certify for the past week and can't get through on either phone or online. The phone system just plays that "all representatives are busy" message for 2 seconds then hangs up - no hold option, no queue, nothing! My online account is stuck on some "identity verification in progress" screen that never actually progresses. What's really stressing me out is that I've been certifying without issues for months, and now suddenly during my most important certification period the whole system decides to lock me out. I've got bills due and groceries to buy, and the thought of missing this payment cycle is keeping me awake at night. Based on all the incredible advice in this thread, I'm setting my alarm for 7:55am tomorrow to try that early calling strategy that so many people have mentioned. I'm also going to clear all my browser data and try accessing my account from my laptop instead of my phone. If those don't work, I think I'll have to bite the bullet and try Claimyr - it seems like multiple people have had success with it even though it's ridiculous we should have to pay extra just to access our own benefits. Thank you all SO much for sharing your experiences and solutions. Knowing I'm not alone in this nightmare actually helps me feel less crazy. This system is clearly broken but at least we're helping each other navigate through it!

I'm in the exact same boat as everyone else here! Been trying to certify for 3 days now and it's absolutely ridiculous. The phone system won't even let me wait on hold - just gives me that "all representatives are busy" message and immediately disconnects. My online account keeps showing "security verification pending" but doesn't tell me what I need to do to verify anything. What's really frustrating is that I've been certifying smoothly for months and now suddenly during crunch time the system completely locks me out. I'm supposed to be looking for work, not spending entire days just trying to access the unemployment system! After reading through all these experiences, I'm definitely going to try calling right at 7:58am tomorrow morning like several people suggested. Also going to clear my browser cache and try from a different device. If those don't work, I might have to consider that Claimyr service too - it's annoying to potentially pay extra but if it gets me through to a real person it might be worth it. Thanks to everyone for sharing their tips and frustrations - at least we know this is a widespread system problem and not something we're doing wrong. The fact that so many people are dealing with this exact same issue just proves how broken the NYSDOL system really is right now!

I just dealt with this issue myself about two weeks ago! If the verification questions aren't working for you online, there's actually a "forgot security answers" link that's pretty small and easy to miss - it's usually at the bottom of the verification page. That will let you reset your security questions using your email or phone number on file. Once I did that, I was able to get into the Payment Information section and update my direct deposit. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I found that link. If you still can't get in that way, definitely try the 8am phone call strategy - I had to do that for a different issue and it really does work better than calling during busy hours. Also, since your old account is already closed, you might want to check if NYS DOL has your current mailing address in case they need to send you a paper check while this gets sorted out. Better safe than sorry!

I just went through this exact same situation when my account got closed unexpectedly! Here's what finally worked for me after trying everything: First, try the "forgot security answers" link at the bottom of the verification page - it's easy to miss but lets you reset using your email/phone. If that doesn't work, calling at exactly 8:00 AM is crucial - I got through in under 10 minutes vs hours of waiting at other times. Have your SSN, claim number, and new bank routing/account numbers ready. The rep can update everything over the phone and give you a confirmation number (write it down - no email confirmation). Most importantly, ask them to put a temporary hold on direct deposit for your next payment so you get a paper check instead of it bouncing back to your closed account. That saved me so much stress! Also call your new bank to let them know unemployment deposits are coming - they can help watch for any returned payments. The whole thing took about 15 minutes once I got through to someone. Don't stress too much - it's fixable, just requires a bit of persistence!