Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly eye-opening and gives me so much hope. I was in almost the exact same situation as many of you - terminated for no call no show after missing work due to personal issues that made it impossible for me to function normally. I've been sitting on this for weeks, terrified that filing would be pointless and that I'd be automatically denied. What really stands out to me from everyone's stories is how NYS Department of Labor actually does evaluate these cases individually rather than having a blanket denial policy. The distinction between willful misconduct and circumstances beyond your control seems to be key - it's not just about whether you called in or not, but WHY you couldn't call in. I'm particularly encouraged by how many people mentioned being honest about mental health issues and still getting approved. Like several others here, I was dealing with overwhelming anxiety and depression that made basic functioning impossible, including picking up the phone to call work. Reading these success stories has helped me realize that I need to frame this properly when I file - explaining the underlying circumstances that prevented normal communication rather than just focusing on the shame of not calling. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the detailed accounts of the adjudication process. It sounds like the officers really do try to understand the full context and circumstances. I'm going to stop overthinking this and file my claim this week. You're all right - I have nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain.

I've been reading through all these incredibly detailed and encouraging experiences, and I have to say this thread has been a lifeline for me. I'm in a very similar situation - got terminated 2 weeks ago for no call no show after missing 3 days due to severe depression and anxiety that left me completely unable to function. Like so many others here, I've been paralyzed by the assumption that filing would be automatic denial. What's been most helpful is understanding that NYS Department of Labor actually looks at WHY you couldn't call in, not just the fact that you didn't. In my case, I was dealing with a mental health crisis that made even basic tasks like getting out of bed or making phone calls feel impossible. It wasn't a choice to skip work - I literally couldn't function normally. I'm also encouraged to see how many people mentioned having clean work records before their incidents and how that seemed to factor into the adjudication decision. I had perfect attendance for over a year before this happened, so hopefully that will show this was completely out of character for me. Thank you to everyone who shared such detailed accounts of their adjudication experiences - knowing that the officers actually ask thoughtful questions and try to understand the full context gives me hope. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow and be completely honest about my mental health struggles. You're all right that I have nothing to lose by trying.

@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 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!

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.

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!