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I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in since I recently went through something very similar. I was fired from my job at a restaurant for what they called "reliability issues" but it was really because I had to miss work when my elderly father was hospitalized unexpectedly. I was so worried about applying for unemployment because I thought being fired meant automatic disqualification. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! It sounds like NYS Department of Labor really does look at the specific circumstances rather than just the fact that you were terminated. Everyone's advice about filing immediately, being honest, and keeping documentation is spot on. I ended up getting approved after about a month, even though my employer initially contested it. The hearing process was nerve-wracking but the officer was fair and understood that family medical emergencies aren't misconduct. Your car trouble situation definitely sounds like it falls into the same category of circumstances beyond your control. Don't let your employer's version of events discourage you - file that claim and fight for what you're entitled to!
Welcome to the community, Emma! Your experience with family medical emergencies is another perfect example of how NYS Department of Labor distinguishes between legitimate circumstances and actual misconduct. It's really encouraging to hear that you were approved even after your employer contested it - that gives me a lot of hope for my own situation. The fact that the hearing officer was fair and understood that family emergencies aren't misconduct is reassuring too. I think what's really coming through from everyone's responses is that being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you if the reasons were beyond your control. Reading all these different scenarios - car trouble, childcare issues, family emergencies - it's clear that the system is designed to help people who genuinely need support, not punish them for circumstances they couldn't prevent. Thank you for sharing your story and adding to this incredibly helpful thread!
I'm new to this community but wanted to add my perspective as someone who works in employment law. Reading through this thread, I'm really impressed by how much accurate information has been shared! Just to reinforce what others have said - car trouble causing attendance issues is typically NOT considered willful misconduct under NY unemployment law. The key legal standard is whether your actions were deliberate violations of your employer's reasonable expectations. Mechanical breakdowns are generally viewed as circumstances beyond your control. When you file your claim, focus on these key points: 1) The attendance issues were directly caused by unforeseeable car problems, 2) You weren't deliberately choosing to violate company policy, and 3) You have documentation showing the legitimate nature of the car trouble. Also, don't be intimidated if your employer contests - retail employers often do this automatically regardless of the merits of their case. The unemployment system in NY is actually designed to err on the side of helping workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. File your claim today and keep all that documentation handy!
Thank you so much for providing that legal perspective! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who works in employment law that the information shared in this thread has been accurate. Your explanation of the legal standard - whether actions were deliberate violations versus circumstances beyond control - really helps clarify why car trouble situations like mine typically don't constitute willful misconduct. I appreciate you breaking down those three key points to focus on when filing my claim. It's also helpful to know that the NY unemployment system is designed to help workers who lose jobs through no fault of their own, rather than being set up to deny claims. Between all the personal experiences shared here and your professional insight, I feel much more confident about filing my claim today. This community has been incredible - thank you for taking the time to share your expertise!
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I'm going through this exact same problem right now and it's been so stressful! I accidentally typed my mother's maiden name wrong when I first set up my account (used her stepfather's last name instead of her biological father's) and now I'm completely locked out. I've been trying to call the main customer service line for three days straight with no luck - just endless busy signals or getting disconnected after hours on hold. Reading through all these solutions has been incredibly helpful though! I'm definitely going to try the password reset method that @Mei Wong and @Luca Romano had success with first thing tomorrow morning. If that doesn't work, I'll try calling that Teleclaim number (888-581-5812) during the 2-3 PM window that @AstroExplorer recommended. It's so frustrating that one small mistake can cause such a huge problem, but I'm really grateful for all the detailed advice here. This community has been a lifesaver - I was starting to panic about missing multiple weeks of claims! Will definitely update with what ends up working for me.
I'm in the exact same boat as you! Been locked out for 5 days now because I mixed up my mom's maiden name with her nickname when I first applied. The stress of potentially missing claim weeks is real! Based on everything I've read in this thread, the password reset method seems to have the highest success rate - definitely try that first. The phone verification option seems to be key from what everyone's saying. If that doesn't work, I'm also planning to try that Teleclaim number during the 2-3 PM window. We've got this! It's such a relief to know there are actual solutions that work and we're not stuck forever. Please keep us updated on what works for you - I'll do the same when I try these methods tomorrow!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful! I made the mistake of putting my mom's confirmation name instead of her actual maiden name when I first applied, and now I'm completely locked out. I've been trying the main customer service line for days with no success - just endless hold times and disconnections. I'm definitely going to try the password reset method that @Mei Wong, @Luca Romano, and others have had success with first. The tip about choosing phone verification over email verification seems crucial. If that doesn't work, I'll try the Teleclaim number (888-581-5812) during that 2-3 PM window that @AstroExplorer recommended. It's incredible how one small typo can cause such a massive headache, but I'm so grateful for this community sharing all these workarounds. This gives me hope that I'll actually be able to get back to filing my weekly claims soon instead of stressing about missing payments!
I just went through this exact nightmare about a month ago! The password reset method really is your best bet - I got locked out for the same reason (mixed up my mom's maiden name with her middle name) and was panicking about missing claim weeks. The key things that worked for me: 1) Try the password reset during off-peak hours (I did it around 10 AM on a Wednesday), 2) Definitely choose phone verification when given the option - it's much faster than email, and 3) Have all your info ready just in case it asks for additional verification. The whole process took me about 12 minutes from start to finish. Once I got back in, I immediately went to security settings, corrected the maiden name, and took screenshots of everything. If the reset doesn't work for some reason, that Teleclaim number backup plan is solid - I didn't need to use it but several people here have had success with it. You'll get this sorted out! The stress is real but there are definitely solutions that work.
You're definitely not alone in this struggle! I just resolved this same issue last week using the password reset method. The timing advice from @DeShawn Washington is spot on - I tried it during mid-morning on a Tuesday and it worked perfectly. One thing I d'add is to make sure you re'using the same device/browser you used when you first created your account if possible, as sometimes that helps with the verification process. Also, when you get to the phone verification step, the code usually comes through as a text within 30-60 seconds, so don t'panic if it s'not instant. Once you get back in, definitely screenshot your corrected security questions like others have mentioned - I wish I d'thought of that earlier! The whole ordeal is so unnecessarily stressful when you re'worried about missing payments, but you ll'get through this. Keep us posted on how it goes!
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I'm so grateful I found this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same issue for about 6 weeks - that 888-209-8124 number is absolutely useless and just hangs up immediately every time. My benefits were suspended in early February with no explanation whatsoever, and I was starting to think I was going crazy trying to get help. This thread is like striking gold - I had no idea there were so many different strategies to try! I'm definitely going to start with the mobile app callback feature that Max mentioned since it has that separate queue, and then send a secure message mentioning my 6+ week timeline to get into that priority callback system. I'll also call my assemblyman's office tomorrow morning. It's incredibly frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating a broken system just to get basic help, but reading all these success stories gives me real hope for the first time in weeks. The system upgrade explanation finally makes sense of why everything has been such a disaster lately. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share what worked for them - this community support is exactly what people need when dealing with impossible bureaucracy. I'll definitely post an update once I make progress to help the next person who finds this lifesaver of a thread!
I've been lurking on this thread for weeks while dealing with my own NYSDOL nightmare, and I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies! This has been the most helpful resource I've found anywhere online. I'm in week 9 of trying to reach someone about my benefits that were cut off in January with zero explanation. That 888-209-8124 number is completely broken - I've called it literally hundreds of times and it just hangs up immediately every single time. I was starting to think it was some kind of cruel joke. Based on all the amazing advice in this thread, I finally have a real action plan: 1. Already downloaded the mobile app and submitted a callback request through that separate queue system 2. Sent a detailed secure message specifically mentioning my 9+ week timeline 3. Called my state representative's office this morning (they were actually really helpful and said they'd reach out to their NYSDOL contact) 4. Started documenting every single contact attempt The information about the system upgrade running through April finally explains why this has been such an absolute disaster since January. It's still incredibly frustrating, but at least knowing there's a concrete reason helps maintain some sanity. Reading Isaiah's success story and all the other updates showing these methods actually work has given me the first real hope I've had in months. This community has created something truly valuable here - a actual roadmap for navigating an impossible system. I'll definitely post an update once I make progress to help keep this resource current for the next person who desperately needs it!
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I'm currently going through this exact nightmare too! Been locked out for over a week after forgetting my PIN and the security questions failing. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both frustrating and reassuring - frustrating because it's clear this system is completely broken, but reassuring because I'm definitely not alone in this mess. I'm planning to try the One-Stop Career Center approach based on all the positive feedback here. Already called ahead and they confirmed they can help with PIN resets if you bring proper ID, Social Security card, and employment documents. The staff person I spoke with said walk-ins are usually seen within 2-3 hours, which beats waiting weeks for fraud statement processing or spending $20 on calling services. For anyone else in this situation - don't give up! It sounds like persistence really does pay off with this system. I'll definitely update this thread once I try the career center route. We need more success stories to help others navigate this bureaucratic maze! 🤞
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been feeling so defeated after being locked out for days, but seeing everyone's experiences and solutions gives me real hope. The One-Stop Career Center route sounds like our best bet - way more reliable than the broken online system. I'm definitely going to try this approach too. It's 2024 and we're dealing with a system that feels like it was designed in the stone age! 😅 Thanks for sharing the walk-in time estimate (2-3 hours) - that's super helpful for planning. Please do update us on how it goes - your success could be the breakthrough story we all need to hear! We're all rooting for each other in this bureaucratic nightmare.
I've been following this thread closely since I'm dealing with a very similar PIN lockout situation myself. Based on everyone's experiences, it seems like the One-Stop Career Center approach is definitely the most promising solution - multiple people have mentioned they can reset PINs directly, which bypasses all the broken online systems and endless phone holds. For those planning to visit a career center, I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm they can help with PIN resets and asking about wait times. Also, make sure to bring: - Photo ID (driver's license or state ID) - Social Security card - Recent pay stubs or tax documents (W-2s, etc.) - Any documentation related to your fraud statement if you filed one It's incredibly frustrating that something as simple as forgetting a PIN can turn into weeks of bureaucratic hell, but this thread gives me hope that there are actual solutions. The fact that so many people are going through this exact same issue shows how broken the system really is. Really hoping some of you who try the career center route will update us with success stories - it would help so many others who are stuck in this same nightmare! 🤞
This is such a helpful summary! I've been reading through this entire thread feeling overwhelmed by all the different suggestions, but you've really organized the best approach clearly. The One-Stop Career Center route definitely seems like the consensus winner here. I'm planning to gather all those documents you listed and try visiting one next week. It's honestly both comforting and infuriating to see how many of us are dealing with this exact same issue - comforting because we're not alone, infuriating because it shows how fundamentally broken this system is. A PIN reset shouldn't require this much detective work! Thanks for putting together that document checklist - super useful for those of us preparing to make the trek to a career center. Really hoping we start seeing some success stories soon! 🙏
Amina Toure
To clarify the main points: You can travel while collecting unemployment as long as you remain able and available for work. For a short trip like a wedding, you don't need to notify NYS Department of Labor. Just be honest on your weekly certification about your availability. If you're only gone for 2-3 days and could have accepted work if offered, you should be fine to certify normally for that week.
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Oscar O'Neil
I just wanted to add that I've been dealing with this same situation - I'm on unemployment and had to travel for a funeral last month. What I learned is that the key question on your weekly certification is whether you were "able and available for work" each day. If you're only gone for a weekend wedding and would have been able to accept a job offer if one came up, you can still answer "yes" to that question. The NYS Department of Labor cares more about your willingness and ability to work than your exact geographic location for short trips. Just don't try to claim benefits for days when you genuinely weren't available. Have a great time at your sister's wedding!
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Ellie Lopez
•This is really helpful, thanks Oscar! I'm in a similar boat - been on UI for about 3 months and have a family reunion coming up in Vermont. It's good to know that short trips for family events are generally okay as long as you're still available for work. Did you have any issues with your weekly certification after the funeral trip? I'm always paranoid about answering those questions wrong and messing up my benefits.
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