I recently had to update my address when I moved from upstate to the NYC area, and the process was pretty smooth overall. Like others have mentioned, you'll go through the identity verification which is totally normal - just have your SSN and some basic personal info ready. One thing I'd add is that if you're moving between different regions of the state, it's worth double-checking that your local One-Stop Career Center information gets updated too, since they sometimes send notifications about job fairs and workshops to your local center. The address change itself didn't affect my weekly claims at all, and payments continued without interruption. The whole thing took maybe 15 minutes once I got logged in. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications on schedule while the change processes!

I just went through this same process a couple weeks ago! The my.ny.gov system worked great for me. Go to your account, click on "Personal Information" and you'll see fields for both mailing and residential addresses. The identity verification step is totally normal - it's just asking you to confirm some basic info like your SSN and maybe answer a security question. Took me about 10-15 minutes total. I got a confirmation email within 24 hours and my next benefit payment went to the new address without any issues. Don't worry about it affecting your claim status - address changes are routine as long as you're still eligible to work in NY. Just make sure to update both addresses if your mailing and residential are different, and keep filing your weekly claims on schedule while it processes!

I went through this process about 6 months ago and it took exactly 3 weeks for my initial approval. One thing that really helped speed things up was making sure I had uploaded a clear copy of my termination letter and last paystub when I first filed - I think having complete documentation from the start prevented any delays. Also, Isabella is absolutely right about filing your weekly certifications immediately! I made the mistake of waiting and lost my first week of benefits. The good news is that once you're approved, the payments usually start flowing pretty quickly. Since you were downsized rather than fired for cause, your case should be pretty straightforward. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same process right now! Filed my claim 10 days ago after getting laid off and just got my approval yesterday. The waiting was absolutely nerve-wracking, especially with rent due soon. What helped me was calling the automated line (tel:1-888-209-8124) early in the morning around 8 AM - you can at least check your claim status without having to get through to a human agent. Also, I second what everyone is saying about filing your weekly certifications right away. I almost missed doing mine the first week because I thought I had to wait for approval. The system is definitely slow but it does work eventually. Since you were downsized (not fired for misconduct), your approval should be pretty straightforward once they get through the backlog.

Congratulations on getting it sorted out! This is such a perfect example of why the NY unemployment system is so confusing - there are these edge cases that aren't clearly explained on the website. Your situation shows exactly why sometimes you just HAVE to talk to an actual person instead of trying to figure it out online. Really glad that calling service worked for you and thanks for sharing the update. This thread will definitely help other people who find themselves in the same boat!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation where I'm approaching the end of my 26 weeks but still have about 6 months left in my benefit year. Reading through all the responses here, it sounds like the key thing is whether you worked during your benefit year and earned enough to qualify for a new claim. @872b58869e00 your breakdown of the three scenarios is super clear - way better than anything I've found on the official NYSDOL website. And @33c9af4fbe1c congrats on getting it resolved! It's encouraging to hear that the Claimyr service actually works since I've been dreading having to call and wait on hold for hours. One question for anyone who might know - if you do qualify for a new claim within your benefit year, does it reset your 26-week counter or do you still only get whatever weeks were remaining from your original benefit year?

I went through this exact situation last year! The key is getting pre-approval from NYS DOL for what they call "approved training." You need to contact them BEFORE enrolling in anything - I can't stress this enough. There's a specific form (I think it's UI-427A) that you need to submit. The program has to be related to your field or lead to employment in a high-demand occupation. Digital marketing should qualify since it's in demand. Once approved, you can attend training and still collect benefits, though you'll still need to file weekly claims. The approval process took about 3-4 weeks for me, so definitely start early if your program begins next month. Also check if your local American Job Center has similar programs - sometimes they're faster to get approved.

I actually just went through the approval process a few months ago for a UX/UI design bootcamp. The UI-427A form is available on the NYS DOL website under "Forms" but honestly it's buried pretty deep - took me forever to find it. You can also request it by calling, but good luck getting through. As for the "suitable" training question, they were pretty reasonable about it. I had a background in graphic design and they approved the UX program since it's a natural progression and high-demand field. For digital marketing coming from general marketing, you should be fine - just emphasize how it builds on your existing skills and leads to better job prospects. Pro tip: when you submit the form, include course curriculum and job placement statistics if the program has them. It shows you're serious about using the training for employment, not just killing time on unemployment.

been there done that. took night classes at SUNY while collecting benefits for almost a year. never had an issue as long as i kept applying for jobs and was honest about my availability

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I enrolled in part-time evening classes while collecting unemployment and it worked out fine. The key things that helped me: 1) I made sure my class schedule was only evenings/weekends so I was available for work during normal business hours, 2) I kept detailed records of all my job applications and interviews to show I was actively seeking work, and 3) When I filled out my weekly certifications, I answered "yes" to being available for work since I truly was available during typical work hours. NYS Department of Labor never questioned it. Just be prepared to drop a class if you get a job offer that conflicts with your schedule - your unemployment benefits depend on you being willing to accept suitable work. Good luck with school and the job search!