I'm so glad I found this thread because I'm in a really similar situation right now! Reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. I was terminated two weeks ago and my employer is claiming misconduct, but honestly it feels more like they were looking for a reason to let me go. The incident they're citing was pretty minor and I feel like they're blowing it out of proportion. I've been hesitating to file because I was worried that having "misconduct" on my termination would automatically disqualify me, but it sounds like the NYS DOL actually does a real investigation and doesn't just take the employer's word for it. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week. Has anyone here had experience with how long you typically have to wait for that initial adjudication interview after you file? I'm trying to plan my finances around the timeline.

I just went through this exact situation about two months ago! Got fired for what my employer called "misconduct" but it was really just a misunderstanding about a procedure I wasn't properly trained on. I was terrified to file because I thought the misconduct label would automatically disqualify me, but reading online forums like this one convinced me to apply anyway. Best decision I made! The NYS DOL adjudicator was really fair and asked me detailed questions about my training, the specific incident, and my overall work performance. I was able to explain that I was never given clear guidance on the procedure and was doing my best with limited information. Got approved after about 4 weeks. The key is being honest and providing your perspective - don't let your employer's version be the only story they hear. File immediately if you haven't already, and remember that "misconduct" in unemployment law has a very specific definition that's much higher than just making a mistake or having a disagreement at work. You've got this!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - my 26 weeks just ended last month and it's been really stressful trying to figure out what comes next. The NYS Department of Labor website could definitely be clearer about this stuff upfront. I had no idea it was just 26 weeks until I got that notification. What's been helping me is reaching out to multiple resources at once rather than waiting for one thing to work out. I applied for SNAP benefits immediately, contacted my local 211 for emergency assistance programs, and signed up with the American Job Center like others mentioned. The job search requirements during those 26 weeks actually helped me build a routine, so I'm trying to keep that same energy even without the weekly payments. It's tough out there but we've got to keep pushing. Have you looked into any temporary or gig work to help bridge the gap while you're searching for something permanent?

This is exactly what happened to me too Connor. The 26-week limit caught me completely off guard - I kept thinking there would be some kind of extension or that I was missing something. NYS Department of Labor really should make this clearer when you first file your claim. What helped me was immediately getting on mybenefits.ny.gov to apply for SNAP and other assistance the day my UI ended. Also check with your local social services office about emergency programs - some counties have short-term cash assistance or utility help that can bridge the gap. The American Job Centers that others mentioned are legit too - mine had workshops on interviewing and even some temp-to-hire opportunities I wouldn't have found elsewhere. It sucks that we have to piece together all these different programs, but don't feel bad about using every resource available. You paid into these systems and they're there for exactly this situation. Keep your head up and keep applying - something will come through!

I'm new to this community and dealing with a very similar situation! I have an LLC for freelance graphic design that I formed in early 2023, but it's been completely inactive since I was laid off in March. Like you, I disclosed the LLC ownership upfront when applying for unemployment, but I've been really anxious about the weekly certifications. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that the key is being honest about ownership while accurately reporting that you're not actively working through the business. I've been answering "no" to the self-employment questions since I'm genuinely not doing any design work, but seeing everyone else's similar experiences really validates that approach. The weekly activity log idea that multiple people have mentioned sounds like a great way to document everything - I'm definitely going to start tracking "no LLC activity" each week along with keeping my bank statements showing zero transactions. It's amazing how many people here have successfully navigated this exact scenario through transparency and consistent reporting. Thank you for posting this question - it's exactly what I needed to read to feel confident about how I'm handling my situation!

I'm also new to this community and dealing with almost the exact same situation! I formed an LLC for freelance social media consulting in 2023, made very little income from it (maybe $600 total), and it's been completely dormant since I was laid off in February. Like you, I disclosed the LLC ownership upfront when filing for unemployment, but I've been really nervous about the weekly certifications - constantly second-guessing whether I'm answering the self-employment questions correctly even though I know I haven't done any work through it. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! The consistent message from everyone who's successfully navigated this situation is so helpful: be transparent about ownership (which we all did by disclosing upfront) and accurately report no work activity on weekly claims. I've been answering "no" to self-employment questions since I'm genuinely not performing any services through the LLC, and seeing that multiple people have taken this exact approach gives me so much confidence. I'm definitely going to start that weekly activity tracking log that several people mentioned - documenting "no LLC activity" each week along with keeping bank statements showing zero transactions seems like a smart way to have everything ready if they ever need documentation. Thank you for asking this question that so many of us dormant LLC owners were wondering about - this thread has been invaluable for understanding how to handle these situations properly!

As someone new to this community and currently dealing with the exact same issue, I'm blown away by how helpful this thread has become! I've been trying to file my weekly claim for four days now and was getting so frustrated until I found this goldmine of advice. The combination of strategies everyone has shared here is incredible - from the precise 8 AM timing to the landline suggestions to the slow PIN entry technique. I never would have thought of half these workarounds on my own. It's honestly ridiculous that we need to become phone system experts just to access basic unemployment services, but I'm grateful for this community coming together to help each other navigate this mess. I'm going to try the Tuesday morning landline approach tomorrow armed with all the tips from this thread. Thank you everyone for turning what felt like an impossible situation into something manageable with the right strategy!

I'm new to this community and just went through this exact same frustrating experience last week! After days of failed attempts, what finally worked for me was calling at exactly 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning using my work's landline. The key was entering my PIN extremely slowly - like 3 seconds between each digit - and waiting for the complete automated message before inputting anything. I also discovered that if you get a "please try again" message after entering your PIN, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes if you wait about 10 seconds, it will prompt you to re-enter it and work the second time. It's absolutely insane that we need these elaborate workarounds just to file a basic weekly claim, but persistence with the right strategy does eventually pay off. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I was in a similar situation earlier this year and can confirm what others have said - you can absolutely receive both benefits without any issues! I was initially hesitant to apply for SNAP because I thought it might somehow jeopardize my unemployment, but they really are completely separate systems. The SNAP application process was actually pretty smooth through the myBenefits.ny.gov website that someone mentioned. Just make sure you have your unemployment benefit amount handy when you're filling out the income section. It's been a huge help with grocery costs while I'm job searching. Don't let worry about potential conflicts stop you from getting the food assistance you need - there's no interaction between the two programs at all.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since this question comes up a lot. I was laid off in March and have been receiving both UI benefits and SNAP for the past few months with zero issues. Like everyone else has said, they're totally separate programs - NYS DOL doesn't even ask about SNAP on the weekly certification questions. The only thing I'd add is that when you apply for SNAP, be prepared for them to ask for documentation of your unemployment benefits (like a screenshot of your payment history), but that's just standard verification stuff, not because there's any conflict between the programs. Hope this helps ease any concerns!