I'm currently going through a somewhat similar situation - my company is being acquired and while they haven't announced layoffs yet, there's definitely uncertainty about job security. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly educational! The consistent theme seems to be that business sales resulting in position eliminations are handled pretty straightforwardly by NYS DOL as "lack of work" separations. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference and really appreciate how detailed everyone has been with their timelines and required documentation. The advice about getting that HR letter specifically mentioning both the business sale AND position elimination seems crucial. It's amazing how supportive this community is - you've all provided way more practical insight than any official website I've found. Thanks for sharing your real-world experiences!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through a very similar situation! My company was sold about 8 months ago and they closed our entire department. I was really nervous about filing for unemployment because I wasn't sure if a business sale would qualify, but it was actually one of the smoothest claims processes I've ever experienced with NYS DOL. Like others have mentioned, the key is really in the documentation. I made sure to get an official separation letter from HR that specifically mentioned both the business sale AND that my position was being eliminated due to restructuring. When I filed online, I selected "lack of work" as my separation reason and included a brief note about the company sale and department closure. My claim was approved in just under two weeks with zero complications. NYS DOL seems very familiar with these business acquisition scenarios and treats them as straightforward involuntary separations. Your 6 years as a warehouse supervisor definitely works in your favor too - shows you're an established worker with solid employment history. Don't stress too much about the timing of when to file - just wait until your actual last day of employment and then file that week. You've got a really clear-cut case here with the facility closure and no positions being offered by the new owners. Best of luck with your claim!

I went through this exact situation a few months ago when my workplace had to close for facility upgrades. One thing I'd add is to file your claim as soon as possible - don't wait until your last day of work. You can typically file the Sunday before your layoff begins. Also, when you're filling out the application, there should be a specific question about whether you expect to return to work - make sure to answer "yes" and include the approximate date your employer gave you. This helps ensure you get standby status right away instead of having to call and sort it out later. The whole process was much smoother than I expected!

I actually had to deal with this same situation last year when my manufacturing job shut down for retooling. One thing nobody mentioned yet is that you'll want to keep all your contact info updated in the system because when your employer is ready to call you back, NYS DOL needs to be able to reach you quickly. Also, even though you're on standby status, make sure you're still available to work during normal business hours - I know someone who lost their benefits because they went on vacation during their layoff period without notifying the department first. The weekly certification process is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it!

You're absolutely doing everything right by reporting your earnings! I've been in a similar situation and the anxiety is totally understandable. Just to add to what others have said - the NYS Department of Labor actually encourages part-time work while on unemployment because it helps people transition back to full employment. The partial benefit system is designed specifically for situations like yours. Keep detailed records of your work hours and pay stubs, and continue reporting honestly each week. You're not going to get in trouble for working part-time and reporting it correctly - that's exactly what you're supposed to do!

I went through this exact same worry when I started doing some freelance work while on unemployment! The anxiety is real, but you're handling it perfectly by reporting everything. One thing that helped me feel more confident was calling the NYS Department of Labor directly to confirm my understanding of the partial benefit rules - even though the wait times can be brutal. They were actually really helpful and reassured me that as long as you're honest about your earnings and keep good records, you're doing exactly what the system is designed for. The partial benefit program exists specifically to help people like us transition back to steady work without losing all support immediately. Keep up the good work with the restaurant shifts - sounds like a great way to get back into the workforce!

The system is so messed up. I reported my return to work properly and they STILL sent me a questionnaire 3 weeks later asking why I stopped filing claims. Like, hello, I told you I went back to work! Had to call and explain everything again. Just keep records of what you report in case they question it later.

Just went through this exact situation last month! You definitely want to file that final weekly claim for the week you started working. When you're filling it out, there should be a question about returning to work - make sure to put your exact start date (Tuesday in your case). The system will automatically calculate any partial benefits you might be owed for the days before you started. After you submit that claim with your return-to-work date, your unemployment claim will be closed and you won't need to file anymore. Don't worry, you're doing the right thing by reporting it properly!

This is such a helpful thread for someone just starting this process! I got laid off last Friday from my job in Buffalo and I'm still trying to wrap my head around all the unemployment requirements. My HR department mentioned they'll be sending me around $1,400 in vacation pay in a couple weeks, and honestly I had no clue this would impact my unemployment benefits at all. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear I need to get ahead of this - my weekly gross was about $350, so that vacation pay covers exactly 4 weeks. I'm going to call HR first thing Monday to get the official documentation showing which specific weeks the vacation time covers. It's frustrating that the NYS Department of Labor website doesn't explain any of this clearly, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share their real experiences. Better to do this right from the start than deal with audit problems later!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently dealing with this exact situation - got laid off from my job in Syracuse about 10 days ago and just found out my employer will be paying out approximately $2,200 in accrued vacation time next month. My weekly gross salary was $550, so that works out to exactly 4 weeks of coverage. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences here has made it crystal clear that I need to: 1) Contact my HR department immediately to get official documentation showing which specific weeks the vacation pay covers, 2) Report $550 for each of the 4 weeks starting from the week after my last day of work (not when I receive the actual payment), and 3) Keep detailed records of everything for potential DOL audits later. What really stands out to me is how many people mentioned they wished they had this information when they first started - the official NYS Department of Labor guidance is practically useless for real-world situations like this. I'm definitely going to be proactive about getting proper documentation and reporting everything correctly from day one. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've saved me from potentially major compliance issues down the road!