Tell your cousin to check her pay stubs and add up her quarterly earnings. That's the easiest way to know for sure. The NYS Department of Labor base period thing makes more sense when you actually calculate it out with real numbers.

Just to add some clarity for anyone reading this thread - the key thing to remember is that NY unemployment eligibility is based on WAGES earned, not just time worked. So even if your cousin has only been working part-time for 4 months, if she's earning decent wages and meets those quarterly thresholds mentioned earlier, she could still qualify. The interstate wage combination that others mentioned is huge too - those 8 months in Pennsylvania could really make the difference. I'd suggest she calculate her total earnings from both states across the relevant quarters before assuming she doesn't qualify. Sometimes people miss out on benefits they're actually entitled to because they don't realize how the system really works!

I went through something similar last year. The key is how your employer coded the termination - since they said "attendance issues" rather than misconduct related to substance abuse, you have a better shot at getting approved initially. I was able to collect benefits before entering treatment, but had to stop filing while in the 30-day program since I couldn't meet the job search requirements. Once I completed treatment and was actively looking for work again, I resumed my claim without issues. The NYS Department of Labor was actually pretty understanding about the gap once I explained it was for medical treatment. Make sure to keep all your treatment documentation - it helped when I had to explain the interruption in my claim.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - employer let me go for "performance issues" but it was really because my drinking was affecting my work. I've been sober for 3 weeks and looking into treatment options. Reading through these responses, it sounds like the timing of when you file versus when you enter treatment is crucial. Maybe consider filing your claim now while you're still available for work, then pause it during your inpatient stay? That way you at least get the initial determination done. Also want to echo what others said about documenting everything from your employer - if they're calling it attendance rather than misconduct, that definitely seems like it could help your case.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Even as a PRN employee receiving partial benefits, you'll need to complete job search activities unless you're on standby status. Document everything in case NYS Department of Labor requests verification during your claim.

As someone who just went through this process, I can confirm that PRN employees can definitely file for unemployment in NY! The key is documenting your work history well. I kept a spreadsheet of all my shifts for 6 months before filing, which made it much easier to show the reduction in hours. One tip - when you file online, there's a section where you can explain your employment situation. Be clear that you're PRN and describe how your hours were reduced due to circumstances beyond your control. The system is designed to handle these situations, even though it's not always obvious how to navigate it.

One option to consider is getting a co-signer with stable income if that's possible for you. The lender would primarily evaluate the co-signer's income and credit, which could overcome the unemployment issue. Just make sure you understand the legal implications for both parties before going that route.

Another thing to consider is that some lenders might accept unemployment benefits if you can show additional assets or income streams. Since you mentioned having enough saved for a down payment, you might want to look into asset-based lending programs. These focus more on your liquid assets and down payment percentage rather than just monthly income. Also, if you do end up getting a job offer during the mortgage process, make sure to keep your NYS Department of Labor case worker informed about your employment status changes - it could actually strengthen your application if you can show you're transitioning back to stable employment.

Check your spam folder, sometimes they email a link to access 1099G directly

Had the exact same problem last week! What worked for me was clearing my browser cache and cookies completely, then using a different browser (tried Chrome after Firefox kept blocking me). Also make sure you're going directly to labor.ny.gov and not clicking any Google search results - sometimes those redirect links cause issues. If you're still getting locked out, try using your phone's mobile browser instead of desktop. Good luck!