This gives me so much hope! I've been struggling to get through for my partial claim too - my retail job cut me from 30 hours to 12 hours per week in January and I keep putting off calling because I'm terrified of the phone system. Reading everyone's tips here is super helpful, especially about having all your documentation ready and calling right at 8am. One question - did anyone else have issues with their employer not wanting to provide documentation of the hour reduction? My manager keeps saying "just tell them we're slow" but I feel like I need something more official in writing. Should I ask HR directly or is there a specific form my employer needs to fill out?

Ruby, thank you SO much for posting this! I've been dreading making the call for my partial claim after my hours got cut from 40 to 20 per week last month. Seeing that you actually got through and completed everything gives me the courage to finally pick up the phone tomorrow. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about calling right at 8am - I've been trying in the afternoons which clearly isn't working. Quick question: when you were on hold for 35 minutes, did they give you any updates about your place in line or estimated wait time? Or do you just have to sit there wondering if you're still connected? Also, did the agent ask you to have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup, or do they handle that part separately? Thanks again for sharing your success story - it's exactly what I needed to hear today!

Update for anyone still dealing with this: I finally received my corrected 1099-G form today. It came through my online message center, not by mail. It had a cover letter apologizing for the error and explaining that it was caused by a "data processing anomaly during the annual tax form generation process." So keep checking your online accounts!

This is really helpful to read through everyone's experiences! I'm dealing with the exact same issue - my 2025 1099-G shows identical amounts to 2024 even though I only collected unemployment for a few weeks this year versus several months last year. I've been trying to call for days with no luck getting through. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like checking the online message center and using that Claimyr service might be my best bet. Has anyone who got their corrected form noticed if the timing affected their tax filing deadline at all? I'm worried about missing the April deadline while waiting for this to get sorted out.

wait so if employers pay for unemployment insurance, why do some people act like unemployed people are freeloaders? they literally paid into this system through their work

This is such an important distinction to understand! I work in HR and I see this confusion all the time. Another way to think about it: when you look at your paystub, you'll see Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) being deducted from YOUR paycheck - that's what funds Social Security. But you won't see unemployment insurance deductions from your pay because that's paid entirely by your employer as a separate business expense. NYS Department of Labor gets funding from these employer contributions, not from Social Security. So you're absolutely not touching your retirement benefits by collecting unemployment - you're using a benefit that was already paid for on your behalf while you were working.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - the NY unemployment system can be incredibly frustrating to navigate. From what everyone is saying, it sounds like you've exhausted your allocated effective days even though your benefit year hasn't ended yet. This is unfortunately more common than people realize. A few quick suggestions that might help: - Check your online account for your original monetary determination letter - it should show exactly how many effective days you were eligible for - If you worked at all since filing your original claim (even part-time), you might qualify to file a new claim - Don't give up on trying to reach them by phone, but maybe try different times of day or consider using one of those callback services others mentioned The most important thing is to get clarity on whether you can file a new claim based on any work you've done since your original filing. That seems to be the main path forward for most people in your situation. Hang in there - I know how stressful this must be when you're depending on these benefits to pay rent.

Hey Dmitry, I went through this exact same situation last year and it's incredibly frustrating! The "0 effective days" basically means you've used up your allotted benefits for this claim period, even though your BYE date hasn't hit yet. What really helped me was understanding that the effective days system works differently than I expected - it's not just a simple countdown from your start date to your BYE date. Each week you collect uses up 4 "effective days" from your total pool, and that pool can vary based on your work history. Since you mentioned working a temp job for 2 months last fall, you might actually be eligible to file a new claim! The key is whether you earned enough during those quarters to meet NY's requirements. I'd strongly recommend trying to get through to an agent to check this - they can see your wage records and tell you immediately if you qualify. I know the phone system is a nightmare, but don't give up. Some people have had success with that Claimyr service others mentioned, though I personally got through by calling right at 8am on a Tuesday. The wait was still brutal but I eventually got someone. In the meantime, definitely look into other assistance programs like SNAP that Freya mentioned - every little bit helps when you're trying to cover rent. You're not alone in this struggle, and there might be more options available than you realize. Hang in there!

I was in almost the exact same situation as you! Got laid off in September and waited until December to file because I kept thinking I'd find something soon. The regret about those missed months was eating at me, but honestly once I got my first unemployment payment it was such a relief to finally have some income coming in. The online application at labor.ny.gov is pretty straightforward - took me about 20 minutes. Make sure you have your last employer's info handy and be prepared to do weekly certifications every Sunday. Also, start keeping a log of your job search activities right away because they require proof that you're actively looking. I used a simple spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, and dates. The weekly benefit really does help with bills even if it's not your full salary. Don't wait any longer - file today!

I'm going through something similar right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I lost my job in December and have been hesitating to file because I kept thinking I'd find something quickly. Reading everyone's responses has given me the push I needed to stop procrastinating. The one-year deadline is such a relief to know about - I had no idea NY was that generous with the timeframe. I'm definitely going to file my claim this week and start those weekly certifications. It's frustrating that we can't get backpay for the weeks we waited, but at least we can still get help going forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in making this mistake!