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The whole system is so confusing!! Why don't they explain this stuff better when you first apply? I've been terrified to take any work because I thought I'd lose everything.
right?? the nys department of labor website is terrible at explaining the rules
Just want to add my experience - I was in a similar situation and decided to keep filing while working part-time. Best decision I made! The partial benefits really helped bridge the gap until my hours increased. The key is being completely honest about your earnings on the weekly certification. NYS Department of Labor has gotten pretty good at cross-checking with employers, so don't try to hide income. Also, if your part-time job does become full-time and you're earning over your benefit amount, your claim will just go dormant and you can reactivate it later if needed without losing your remaining benefit weeks.
This is really helpful advice! I'm new to unemployment benefits and had the same misconception as the original poster. So just to clarify - if I report my part-time earnings honestly and later my hours get cut back, I can just continue filing weekly claims without having to restart the whole application process? And my benefit year clock keeps running the whole time?
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I'm in a similar situation - my benefit year ends in about 6 weeks and I'm really nervous about the whole reapplication process. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the key is to apply early and be prepared for potential changes to your weekly benefit amount. Does anyone know if there are specific documents I should start gathering now to make the reapplication smoother? I want to avoid any delays since I'm still actively job searching but haven't found anything steady yet.
Hey Ellie! I'd suggest gathering your pay stubs and tax documents (W-2s, 1099s) from the past 18 months, especially from any work you did during your current benefit year. Even those short temp jobs Jamal mentioned could be important for establishing your base period wages. Also make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready. The NYS Department of Labor website has a checklist of required documents for new claims that might be helpful to review. Starting to collect everything now is definitely smart - better to be over-prepared than scrambling at the last minute!
I went through this process about 6 months ago and want to add a few things that might help. First, definitely apply online rather than trying to call - the phone system is completely overwhelmed. Second, even if your weekly benefit amount changes, you'll still get the full 26 weeks of benefits if you qualify, so that's something. One thing that caught me off guard was that they asked for proof of my job search activities from the past few weeks, so make sure you're keeping good records of where you've applied. Also, if you've been doing any gig work or freelancing while on unemployment, make sure to report that accurately on your new application - they cross-reference with tax records and inconsistencies can delay your claim.
This is really comprehensive advice, thank you Javier! The point about keeping job search records is especially important - I didn't realize they might ask for that during the reapplication process. Quick question: when you mention gig work and freelancing, did you have to report earnings that were below the weekly earnings threshold, or just anything that might show up on tax records? I've done a few small freelance projects but wasn't sure if those needed to be disclosed if they didn't affect my weekly certification eligibility.
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Same boat here, been doing the minimum 3 activities but maybe I need to do more? My adjudication officer mentioned something about 'good faith effort' during my phone interview.
The 3 activities is the minimum but showing more effort definitely looks better if your claim gets reviewed. Quality over quantity though - better to have 3 really strong applications than 6 random ones.
From my experience, the most effective combo is direct applications + follow-up calls + visiting local career centers. I was stuck for 3 months just doing online applications, but once I started actually calling employers a few days after applying AND attending the free resume workshops at my local One-Stop Career Center, things picked up fast. The career center staff also helped me identify which job boards actually have real postings vs the fake ones that just collect your info. Also don't overlook LinkedIn networking - sending personalized messages to people in your field counts as a networking activity and sometimes leads to referrals.
This is really helpful advice! I've been mostly sticking to online applications but hadn't thought about the follow-up calls - that makes so much sense. Which One-Stop Career Center did you go to? And do you have any tips for what to say when you call employers after applying? I always feel awkward doing that but sounds like it really makes a difference.
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I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying for 4 days straight and getting nowhere. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I had no idea about the late night trick or that there was an ID.me mobile app. I'm definitely going to try the 11pm-2am window tonight, and I'll also disable my ad blocker and privacy extensions like others suggested. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to verify our identity, but at least there seem to be some workarounds. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - gives me hope that I'll eventually get through this!
Hey Emma! I just went through this exact same nightmare a few weeks ago. The late night approach really does work - I finally got through at around 1:15am after failing for over a week during normal hours. Also, definitely try the mobile app if the browser version keeps failing. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have good lighting and a clean background when doing the ID verification photos - sometimes the system is picky about that too. Don't give up, you'll get through it! The combination of late night timing + disabling extensions + mobile app seems to be the winning formula for most people.
I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this ID.me nightmare! I've been stuck for 6 days now and my patience is completely shot. Reading through everyone's suggestions here has been a lifesaver though - I had no idea there were so many potential workarounds. I'm going to try the late night approach tonight (seems like 1-2am is the sweet spot based on what everyone's saying), and I'll also download the ID.me mobile app and disable my browser extensions. If that doesn't work, I might look into the Claimyr service or visit my local career center. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's comforting to know this isn't just me being incompetent with technology! Will definitely update once I (hopefully) get through this mess.
Welcome to the community Zoe! I totally understand your frustration - I went through this exact same thing a couple months ago and it was absolutely maddening. The late night approach really seems to be the most reliable solution based on everyone's experiences here. I'd suggest trying around 12:30-1:30am since that seems to be when the system is least overloaded. Also, make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand so you can move through the process quickly once it starts working. The mobile app definitely seems to work better than the browser version for a lot of people too. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this struggle and you will get through it! Looking forward to your success update!
GalaxyGlider
I'm going through something very similar right now - my company just announced they're moving from Rochester to Manhattan and I'm terrified about losing my benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! It sounds like the key is documenting everything thoroughly and using the right terminology like "constructive dismissal" when filing. The fact that so many people here have successfully gotten approved for similar relocations gives me hope. Does anyone know if there's a specific time limit for filing after your last day of work? I want to make sure I don't miss any deadlines while I'm gathering all my documentation.
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Luca Conti
•You generally have to file for unemployment within 30 days of your last day of work to avoid any potential issues, though NYS allows filing up to a year after job separation. I'd recommend filing as soon as possible after your last day to get the process started. Rochester to Manhattan is an even more extreme case than most mentioned here - that's like 350+ miles! You should definitely qualify given that distance. When you file, make sure to emphasize both the unreasonable distance and the fact that relocating to NYC would likely mean significantly higher living costs that make it financially unfeasible. Document everything about the move announcement and start calculating your potential commute costs and time. Your case sounds very strong based on all the successful examples shared here!
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Landon Morgan
I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where my employer is relocating from Albany to Long Island - about 180 miles away. After reading all these helpful responses, I feel much more confident about filing for unemployment benefits. It's clear that NYS Department of Labor recognizes employer relocation beyond reasonable commuting distance as "good cause" or "constructive dismissal." For anyone else in this situation, the key takeaways seem to be: 1) Document everything about the relocation announcement, 2) Calculate the actual distance and commute time to show undue hardship, 3) Don't let HR discourage you - they're often wrong about unemployment eligibility, 4) File within 30 days of your last work day, and 5) Be very detailed in your application about why the move creates a financial or personal hardship. Syracuse to Buffalo at 150+ miles is definitely well above the threshold based on all these successful cases shared here. Thanks everyone for providing such detailed experiences - it's incredibly helpful for those of us navigating this stressful situation!
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Debra Bai
•This is such a comprehensive summary - thank you for pulling together all the key points! Your Albany to Long Island situation at 180 miles is definitely another clear-cut case that should qualify. I'm in a similar boat and have been taking notes from everyone's experiences here. One thing I'd add is that several people mentioned keeping screenshots of Google Maps showing the distance and drive time, which seems like really practical documentation to include with the application. It's amazing how many of us are dealing with company relocations right now - seems like it's becoming more common post-pandemic. Best of luck with your claim, and thanks for organizing all the advice so clearly!
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