keep filing those weekly claims! even if ur not getting paid yet you need to maintain ur claim or you'll lose everything

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and it's been stuck in adjudication. From what I've learned reading through other posts here, it seems like the NYS Department of Labor is really backlogged and the "adjudication in progress" status usually means they're verifying something with your former employer or checking your eligibility. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when bills are piling up. Have you tried reaching out to your local assembly member's office? I've heard some people had luck getting their cases expedited that way when the normal phone lines weren't working.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - make sure you understand the timing requirements for these benefits! For Paid Family Leave, you have to give your employer at least 30 days advance notice if the need for leave is foreseeable (like childbirth). For short-term disability, there's usually a waiting period before benefits kick in, and you need to file the claim within a certain timeframe after becoming disabled. Also, if you're planning to take the full 12 weeks available under PFL, you can take it intermittently or all at once within the first year after your baby's birth. I'd really recommend getting in touch with your employer's benefits administrator now to understand exactly what paperwork you'll need and when to submit it. The last thing you want is to be dealing with benefit denials while you're caring for a newborn!

I just went through this process 6 months ago and wanted to share my experience! You're right to be confused about the unemployment eligibility - I thought I could collect UI benefits too, but learned that taking time off to recover from childbirth and bond with your baby actually disqualifies you because of the "able and available" requirement. However, New York has really good family leave benefits that might work better for your situation. I ended up using short-term disability for my 6-week recovery period (paid at about 50% of my salary), then transitioned to Paid Family Leave for an additional 8 weeks of bonding time (paid at 67% of my average weekly wage). The total 14 weeks gave me much more time with my baby than I initially thought I'd be able to afford. One tip - start gathering your paperwork now! You'll need forms from your doctor, and some need to be completed before your due date. Your employer's HR department should have all the forms and can walk you through the process. Also keep in mind that these benefits are funded through small payroll deductions you've probably been paying all along, so you've already "paid into" this system. Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the application process!

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share what I learned from my case worker. The key is to be proactive - don't wait for them to start garnishing. Call the child support office as soon as you start receiving UI benefits and explain your situation. They may be able to set up a temporary reduced payment plan while you're unemployed. Also, keep detailed records of all your expenses (rent, utilities, groceries) in case you need to prove financial hardship later. The system isn't perfect but there are options if you know how to navigate it.

I work at a legal aid clinic and see this situation frequently. In New York, they typically review temporary payment modifications every 3-6 months, but it can vary based on your county's child support office. When you request the modification, ask specifically about the review schedule and what documentation you'll need to provide for extensions. Some offices are more flexible than others - if you're actively job searching and can show proof (applications, interviews, etc.), they're usually more willing to extend temporary arrangements. Also, if your UI benefits are set to expire, let them know in advance so they can adjust accordingly rather than reverting to the original payment amount when you have no income at all.

If you don't take any action, heres what will likely happen: the scammers will get your benefits on their fake card, and when you finally get through to unemployment to report the issue, they'll freeze your account for investigation which can take 8-12 weeks to resolve. DONT WAIT, find a way to speak to a representative IMMEDIATELY.

This is definitely a scam - NY unemployment has exclusively used KeyBank debit cards for years and there's been no official announcement about switching providers. NetSpend is a legitimate company but they are NOT affiliated with NY Department of Labor. Since you selected direct deposit originally, it's especially suspicious that they're suddenly sending you a card instead. This suggests someone may have accessed your account and changed your payment method. Here's what you need to do RIGHT NOW: 1. Do NOT activate any NetSpend card that arrives 2. Check your unemployment account online to see if your payment method or contact info has been changed 3. File a fraud report at dol.ny.gov/report-fraud 4. Contact the FTC at identitytheft.gov to report identity theft 5. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports Most importantly, you need to speak to a live person at DOL immediately to prevent your benefits from going to the scammers. The regular phone lines are impossible, but I've heard good things about services like claimyr.com that wait on hold for you and connect you when an agent picks up. For fraud cases, time is critical. Document everything - take photos of the letter and keep all correspondence. The sooner you report this, the better chance you have of protecting your benefits. Good luck!

Just wanted to add my experience - I had forfeit days last summer and was able to get them reduced by calling the 209 number. The key was having all my paperwork ready and being really clear about what happened. I got through on my third try (called early morning around 8:15am) and the rep was actually pretty helpful. She looked at my account and saw it was an honest mistake with reporting part-time work, so she reduced my forfeit from 6 weeks to 2 weeks right there. Definitely worth trying the phone first before going the formal appeal route, especially if it's just a reporting error.

I'm dealing with a similar forfeit penalty situation right now and this thread has been super helpful! One thing I wanted to add - when you do call (whether through the regular 209 number or using a service like Claimyr), make sure you have your determination notice number handy. The reps can pull up your case much faster if you give them that reference number right away. Also, I've found that being polite but persistent really helps - some reps are more willing to help than others, so if the first person you talk to seems unhelpful, it's worth trying again with someone else. The early morning call time tip sounds smart too - I'm going to try that approach tomorrow!