To answer your original question more specifically - you need both the $2,600 minimum AND wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period. You can check your wage history by logging into my.ny.gov and looking at your unemployment services account. This will show exactly what quarters NYS Department of Labor has on record for you.

One thing that might help clarify your base period - it's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be January 2024 through December 2024. But if you don't have enough wages in that period, you might be able to use an "alternate base period" which would be the last 4 completed quarters. The my.ny.gov portal should show you exactly which quarters they're using for your calculation once you log in.

Wow, reading through all these responses really shows how broken the NY unemployment system is. I'm dealing with something similar - ID.me verified me back in June and I'm still stuck in "pending" hell. It's insane that we all have to become experts in navigating bureaucracy just to get benefits we've paid into. From what everyone's saying, it sounds like the ID.me verification is just step one, and there can be multiple invisible holds on your account that only phone reps can see. Since you got that email about potential identity theft, you probably have a fraud flag that needs manual review. I'm definitely going to try that claimyr service everyone keeps mentioning - seems like it's worth the cost if it actually gets you through to a human. Also had no idea about contacting state senators until reading this thread. OP, don't give up! The system wants us to quit but we're entitled to these benefits. Keep certifying weekly and try every avenue people have suggested. This thread has been more helpful than months of trying to navigate the DOL website. We're all in this together!

This whole thread is incredibly eye-opening and frustrating at the same time. I'm a newcomer here but going through something very similar - ID.me verified me back in early August and I'm still stuck in that "pending" status with zero communication from DOL. Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear this isn't just bad luck, it's a systematically broken system designed to wear us down. What really gets me is that we're all having to crowdsource solutions to access benefits we've literally paid into through our paychecks. The fact that ID.me verification is apparently just the first step, and there can be multiple invisible holds that only phone reps can see, is absolutely ridiculous. No wonder so many people give up. I'm definitely going to try the claimyr service and contact my state senator based on all the success stories here. It's wild that these "hacks" aren't officially communicated anywhere. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share detailed advice - this thread has been more helpful than months of trying to navigate the DOL website on my own. OP, I really hope you get this resolved soon. The eviction threat adds such unnecessary stress to an already impossible situation. Keep fighting - we're all rooting for you!

I'm having the exact same problem! Been trying to certify for partial benefits for the past week and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 15-20 hours a week at a restaurant and this never happened before the system update. It's so frustrating because I really need those partial benefits to make ends meet. Has anyone found a reliable way to get through to an actual person on the phone? I've been trying for days but the hold times are impossible.

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Been trying to certify my partial benefits for almost two weeks now and keep getting that "break in claim" error. I work about 16 hours a week at a local coffee shop and this never happened before their September update. It's really stressing me out because I depend on those partial benefits to cover rent. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like the only real solution is calling them to get it manually fixed, but the hold times are absolutely brutal. Has anyone had any luck getting through during specific times of day? I'm getting desperate here and might have to try that claimyr service people keep mentioning since I can't afford to miss another week of payments.

I went through this same situation a few months ago when my hours got reduced at my retail job. Yes, NYS DOL does contact your employer - they send what's called a "Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed" usually within 3-5 business days of when you file. But honestly, it turned out to be way less stressful than I anticipated. The form they send is pretty straightforward - it just asks your employer to verify basic info like your employment dates, wages, and reason for the hour reduction. Since you're filing for a legitimate reason (reduced hours through no fault of your own), your employer will most likely just confirm that information and send it back. Most HR departments or managers deal with these notices regularly, so it's really just routine paperwork for them. The key is to be completely accurate when you file about why your hours were cut. And definitely make sure you report your part-time wages correctly each week when you certify - that's super important to avoid any overpayment issues later. Don't let worry about the employer notification stop you from getting benefits you're entitled to - the partial unemployment really helped me bridge the gap until things improved.

I totally understand your concern about employer notification - I was in the same boat when my hours at a restaurant got slashed from 30+ hours to just 12 hours a week. Yes, NYS DOL will contact your employer within about a week of filing, but it's really not as scary as it sounds. They send a standard "Notice of Unemployment Insurance Claim Filed" that just asks your employer to verify basic employment info - dates, wages, and reason for the hour reduction. Since you're filing due to legitimate reduced hours (not your fault), your employer will likely just confirm that and return the form. Most businesses get these notices regularly and treat it as routine HR paperwork. The important thing is to be completely honest about your separation reason when filing and to accurately report your part-time earnings every week when certifying. Don't let fear of this notification prevent you from getting financial assistance you're legally entitled to - partial unemployment benefits can really help bridge the gap when you're struggling with reduced income.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's incredibly stressful to be without income for months while fighting these false claims. The fact that your employer told you it was "restructuring" but then claimed to unemployment that you quit voluntarily is actually perfect evidence of their dishonesty. A few things that might help your case: - Check if you have any email confirmations about that termination meeting, even if they're just calendar invites or follow-ups - See if you can find any company communications around that time about budget cuts, layoffs, or organizational changes - If possible, reach out to those coworkers who were also let go - having multiple people terminated for "restructuring" at the same time completely destroys the voluntary quit narrative The contradiction between "restructuring" (employer-initiated) and "voluntary quit" (employee-initiated) is so obvious that it should be an easy win for you. Document everything, stay factual during the hearing, and remember that many employers don't even show up to defend these bogus claims. Keep certifying weekly even though you're not getting paid yet - you'll get all that backpay once you win. You've got strong evidence on your side!

I'm really glad to see so many people offering helpful advice here! As someone who works in employment law, I wanted to add that the "restructuring" statement your employer made is actually one of the strongest pieces of evidence you could have. Restructuring, downsizing, layoffs - these are all employer-initiated separations that automatically qualify for unemployment benefits. The fact that they used this term with you but then told NYSDOL you quit voluntarily is not just contradictory, it's potentially fraudulent. During your hearing, make sure to emphasize these exact words: "My employer told me I was being terminated due to restructuring, but then falsely reported to the Department of Labor that I quit voluntarily." This simple statement highlights the contradiction perfectly. Also, don't worry about not having a termination letter - most at-will employers don't provide them. Your testimony about what was said during the termination meeting, combined with the employer's contradictory statements, should be more than enough evidence. One practical tip: if you're still struggling to reach NYSDOL by phone for any reason, try calling right when they open (8 AM) or during lunch hours (12-1 PM) when call volume is sometimes lower. Good luck with your appeal - you have a very strong case!