ugh the waiting week thing is so confusing!! I thought it was just gone forever when I didn't get paid the first week. Good to know they actually pay it back eventually

I'm dealing with the same issue right now! Been getting regular payments for 5 weeks but still no waiting week refund. From what I've read on the NYS DOL website, they're supposed to automatically release it after you've received 3 weeks of benefits, but there seems to be processing delays happening system-wide. I've seen some people say it can take anywhere from 4-10 weeks depending on when you filed. Definitely frustrating when you're counting on that money! Let me know if you figure out what's causing the delay.

After seeing your post, I wanted to follow up. Were you able to get through to anyone? I know how stressful this waiting game can be.

So glad to hear you got it sorted out! I'm actually dealing with the same ID.me nightmare right now - it keeps rejecting my selfie even though I'm following all their instructions. The lighting thing is so finicky and then it times out halfway through. I've been on hold with NYSDOL for over an hour today but seeing all these success stories gives me hope. Going to check out that Claimyr service too. It's crazy that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get our own benefits!

As a small business owner who's dealt with this before, I understand your concern about rates going up. The good news is that one short-term employee claiming benefits typically won't cause a dramatic spike in your unemployment insurance rates. The system is designed to spread costs over time, and your rates are based on your overall experience rating, not just one claim. Focus on documenting the circumstances of their departure and responding honestly to any paperwork NYS Department of Labor sends you. If they quit without good cause, you have the right to contest the claim.

Yes, definitely write down exactly what they said when they quit! Document the date, time, and their exact words about why they were leaving. "The job wasn't what they expected" could potentially be contested, but you'll want specifics. Did they explain what expectations weren't met? Was it the job duties, work environment, or something else? Also keep any job postings or written job descriptions you provided during hiring to show what was communicated upfront. The more detailed documentation you have, the better position you'll be in if you need to respond to NYS Department of Labor's inquiry about the separation.

THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST US! They watch every move you make but when YOU need help getting your benefits they're nowhere to be found. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my adjudication to clear but they sure would find out fast if I worked somewhere without reporting it!!

From what I understand, they also have access to unemployment insurance wage records from other states if you've worked elsewhere recently. The databases are pretty interconnected now. I learned this when I had to report some part-time work I did in New Jersey while claiming benefits in NY - they caught the discrepancy during a routine audit even though I thought I was reporting correctly. The lesson is definitely to over-communicate rather than under-report anything, even if you're unsure about the requirements.

I'm new to this community but unfortunately facing this exact situation too - my employer just announced they're relocating from Binghamton to Ohio next summer. Reading through all these experiences has been such a relief! Like everyone else here, my HR department gave me the same misleading information about not qualifying for unemployment if I don't relocate, but it's clear from all your stories that this is just standard misinformation they use to discourage legitimate claims. I can't move because I'm currently my grandmother's primary caregiver - she has Alzheimer's and any disruption to her routine and medical care would be catastrophic for her condition. Plus, I'm in the middle of my master's degree program at a local university that I've been working toward for three years. Ohio is obviously way beyond that 50-mile rule everyone mentioned, and the documentation advice from @Dylan Campbell about keeping everything in writing is incredibly valuable. I've already started screenshotting all the relocation communications and plan to gather medical documentation about my grandmother's care needs. It's so frustrating that employers try these scare tactics, but I'm grateful to have found this thread before making any decisions. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with NYS Department of Labor - you're helping people like me understand our rights and not get taken advantage of during an already stressful situation!

I'm also new to this community and unfortunately going through the same situation - my employer just announced they're relocating from Rochester to Tennessee in a few months. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring! Like so many others, my HR department used almost identical language about not qualifying for unemployment if I don't relocate, but it's clear from all these stories that this is just a standard script they use to discourage legitimate claims. I can't move because I'm in the middle of cancer treatment here and have an established team of specialists who know my case inside and out. Switching medical teams and insurance networks in the middle of treatment would be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Tennessee is obviously way beyond any reasonable commuting distance, and the advice about documenting everything has been so helpful - I'm going to start gathering all my medical records and treatment schedules as evidence of why relocation would create severe hardship. It's really frustrating that employers try to mislead workers about their rights during already stressful situations, but I'm so grateful to have found this thread. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with NYS Department of Labor - you're helping people like me understand that we actually have protections in these situations and don't have to just accept what HR tells us!