I'm in a really similar situation - 54 years old and just got laid off from my warehouse job after 18 years. I have a small pension from a retail job I left about 12 years ago that pays around $285/month. Reading through everyone's experiences here has honestly been such a huge relief! I was actually putting off filing my unemployment claim because I was so worried the pension would disqualify me or cause problems. But it's clear from all these responses that as long as it's from a previous employer (which mine definitely is), I should be fine as long as I'm completely transparent about it. The consensus seems to be that NYS Department of Labor is pretty reasonable about this stuff when you're upfront from the beginning. I'm going to file my claim this week and make sure to include all the pension information right in the initial application. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - it really helps to know that so many people have successfully navigated this exact situation!

I'm 52 and going through this exact same thing right now! Got laid off from my office job two months ago and have been collecting unemployment while I job hunt. I have a pension from a teaching job I left about 10 years ago that pays me $380/month. When I first filed my claim, I was terrified about reporting it, but I'm so glad I did. NYS Department of Labor didn't reduce my benefits at all since it's from a previous employer. The online application has a really clear section where you can list all your income sources, and they explain what counts as "deductible income" vs what doesn't. During my phone interview (which took forever to get - definitely echo the suggestion about using services to help get through), the representative confirmed that previous employer pensions typically don't affect your weekly benefit amount. Just make sure you report it every single week on your certifications - I've been doing that religiously and haven't had any issues. It's such a relief to read everyone's similar experiences here. Hang in there with the job search!

just apply online its pretty straightforward, took me like 30 mins to complete the whole thing

Sorry to hear about your layoff, Luca. In addition to what others have said, make sure you're prepared to certify for benefits every week once your claim is approved - you'll need to confirm you're actively looking for work and report any income. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities since NY requires you to make at least 3 work search contacts per week. The whole process can feel overwhelming at first, but the online system walks you through everything step by step. Hang in there!

@Zoe Christodoulou I went through this process last year and it's definitely worth pursuing! The key thing to understand is that there are different types of training benefits. Section 599 is the most common - it allows you to attend approved full-time training while continuing to collect unemployment without having to do job searches. However, it doesn't cover tuition costs. If you're laid off due to trade/globalization reasons, you might qualify for TAA which can actually help pay for training. I'd recommend calling the NYS Department of Labor training unit directly (though be prepared for long hold times) or visiting your local career center where they can walk you through the application process in person. Make sure to have your training program information ready before you apply.

I actually just went through the Section 599 approval process a few months ago for a cybersecurity bootcamp. The career center route is definitely faster than calling - I was able to sit down with a counselor who helped me fill out Form TE-549 correctly and explained exactly what documentation I needed. They also verified that my program was on the ETPL list right there in the office. As for timing, you can apply for Section 599 approval at any point during your unemployment claim, but you MUST get approval before starting classes. I applied about 6 weeks into my claim and it worked fine. Just remember that Section 599 only waives job search requirements - you still need to be physically able to work and available for work outside of class hours. If you're doing a full-time intensive program, make sure to discuss this with your counselor to avoid any issues with your claim.

Just remember you have to file between Sunday and Saturday each week. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way. And yes, keep filing even if you haven't been paid yet - those weeks won't be lost if your claim gets approved.

@Julia Hall - I set up a weekly calendar reminder on my phone for Sunday mornings to file my claim. It's been a lifesaver! Also, if you're really worried about missing payments, you can call the Tele-Center at 1-888-209-8124, but honestly the wait times are brutal. The my.ny.gov portal usually shows your payment status within a day or two of filing your weekly claim, so I check that regularly too. Hang in there - once the first payment comes through, it gets much more predictable!

my friend got double paid when she changed banks... dol sent payment to both old and new account. she had to pay one back obviously

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to wait until after this week's payment posts to my current account before making any changes. It's not worth risking a delay. I'll update here if I run into any issues with the process in case it helps someone else.