I'm so sorry you're going through this - what you've described sounds absolutely horrible and no one should have to endure that kind of treatment, especially after 15 years of dedication. From everything I've read here, it really sounds like you have a strong case for unemployment benefits. The fact that your doctor directly linked your migraines to work stress is huge, and your long tenure shows this wasn't a rash decision. New York does recognize "good cause" resignations for health reasons, so don't let anyone tell you that quitting automatically disqualifies you. A few things that might help based on what others have shared: - Get that formal letter from your doctor using specific language about the work environment being "detrimental to your health" - Gather all those emails where you raised concerns about the workload - they show you tried to fix things before leaving - When you apply, make sure to select "quit with good cause" not just "quit" - Document everything chronologically to show the clear progression from increased workload to health problems Even if you get an initial denial (which unfortunately happens a lot with resignation cases), don't give up! The appeals process seems to work much better when you have proper medical documentation. You did the right thing by prioritizing your health. Wishing you all the best with your claim!

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm also dealing with a work-related health situation and was worried I wouldn't qualify for unemployment after resigning. The advice about getting specific medical language in the doctor's letter is so important - I made the mistake of just bringing visit notes to my first appointment and they weren't detailed enough. One thing I wanted to add that helped me: if you have any text messages or emails from family/friends where you talked about the work stress affecting your health, save those too. They can help establish a timeline and show that the health issues were ongoing and documented in real-time, not just something you claimed after deciding to quit. Obviously the medical documentation is most important, but having that additional evidence of how the situation was affecting you personally really strengthened my case. Also, for anyone waiting on the phone with NYSDOL - I've had better luck calling right when they open at 8 AM rather than during peak hours. Still takes forever, but at least you get in the queue earlier. Good luck with your doctor appointment tomorrow and your claim! After everything you've been through, you absolutely deserve this support.

I'm currently dealing with this same issue - been on unemployment for 3 months now and my lease is up soon. One thing that's helped me is reaching out to smaller property management companies rather than the big corporate ones. They seem more willing to look at your whole financial picture instead of just running you through automated screening software. I also found that being proactive about explaining my situation upfront (rather than trying to hide it) has gotten me further in the process. Some landlords actually appreciate the honesty and the fact that unemployment is documented government income rather than under-the-table work. Still searching but feeling more optimistic after reading everyone's experiences here!

I went through this same struggle a few months ago and want to share what worked for me. Beyond the standard documentation everyone mentioned, I also included a letter from my previous employer confirming my layoff was due to company downsizing (not performance issues) and my eligibility for rehire. This helped show landlords that my unemployment wasn't due to any fault of my own. I also created a simple one-page timeline showing my job search activities and any interviews lined up. The combination of this extra documentation plus offering 2-3 months rent upfront helped me secure a place even though my $380/week benefits were below the typical 3x rent requirement. It took about 20 applications over 6 weeks, but persistence paid off. Your $3,200 savings is actually really good - that's what convinced my landlord I was financially responsible despite being on benefits.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! I was a part-time retail worker who got laid off in December 2024, and my manager told me the same thing - that part-timers don't qualify for unemployment. I waited 8 weeks before filing because I trusted her completely (she'd been with the company for like 15 years, so I figured she knew what she was talking about). When I finally discovered she was wrong, I immediately submitted a backdating request with screenshots of our text conversation where she specifically said "part-time employees aren't eligible for NY unemployment benefits." I also included my pay stubs showing I met the earnings requirements and a brief explanation of how I reasonably relied on her guidance. They approved 6 weeks of backdating! The whole process took about a month from submission to approval. The key was being super specific about who told me what and when, plus showing that I acted reasonably by trusting someone I viewed as knowledgeable about company policies. Your text evidence sounds really strong - the fact that your boss specifically mentioned part-time workers not qualifying is exactly the kind of concrete misinformation that NYSDOL recognizes as "good cause." Don't lose hope! Make sure to submit that backdating request ASAP and include every detail you can remember about the conversation with your boss.

Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation - lost my part-time job in January and my supervisor told me I wouldn't qualify for unemployment because "part-timers don't get benefits." I finally filed last week after finding out that was completely wrong. The success stories here are giving me so much hope! It sounds like having text/email evidence of employer misinformation about part-time eligibility is actually a pretty strong case for backdating. I'm going to gather all my documentation this weekend and submit my request early next week. One question for those who got approved - did you submit any additional evidence beyond just the texts from your employer? Like pay stubs or job search records? I want to make sure I'm including everything that might strengthen my case. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been a lifesaver for figuring out the process!

I literally just solved this exact problem yesterday! The 8-digit PIN is completely separate from your my.ny.gov login credentials - it's specifically for the unemployment benefits system. Here's what finally worked for me after being locked out for over a week: First, make sure you're on the current NYS DOL website (not an old bookmark) because they've changed their system multiple times. Look very carefully for a "Forgot PIN" or "Reset PIN" link - it's usually tiny text right below or next to where you enter the PIN. I almost missed it completely because it's so small! If you find it, you'll need to answer security questions about things like previous addresses, first job, mother's maiden name, etc. If that doesn't work or you can't remember the security answers, try calling the main DOL customer service line at exactly 8:00 AM when they open - the wait times are much shorter then. Also, try switching browsers if you're having trouble seeing the reset link - I was using Safari and couldn't see it, but it showed up perfectly in Chrome. Some people have also mentioned there's a buried live chat feature on the DOL website that has shorter wait times than calling. Don't give up - this system is intentionally confusing but you'll get through it!

I'm dealing with this exact same PIN issue right now and I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been trying to access my unemployment account for the past two days and hitting the same 8-digit PIN wall that everyone's describing. I set up my account back in February when I first filed but I have absolutely no memory of creating any PIN separate from my regular password. I've gone through all my confirmation emails from NYS DOL multiple times but there's nothing about an 8-digit PIN anywhere. Based on all the helpful advice here, I'm going to try the "Forgot PIN" link approach first (assuming I can actually find that tiny link everyone mentioned), then try switching browsers if that doesn't work. If the online reset fails, I'll definitely try the 8 AM calling strategy that so many people recommended. It's incredibly frustrating that this system is so complicated, but reading everyone's success stories gives me hope that I can figure this out. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is more useful than anything on the official DOL website!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same situation - just started my unemployment claim after a layoff from my content marketing role. This thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly a huge relief to find! A few quick questions for those who've been through this: 1. When you mention the 3 work search activities per week - do informational interviews count toward that requirement? I've been doing a lot of those to learn about adjacent fields. 2. For the Career Centers that were mentioned - do you need an appointment or can you just walk in? I'm in the Rochester area if anyone has specific experience there. 3. I keep seeing conflicting info online about whether volunteer work affects benefits. Has anyone done volunteer marketing work while collecting unemployment? Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - reading about everyone's strategies and timelines is helping me feel much more prepared and less alone in this process. It's clear this community really looks out for each other!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said about this being such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm on week 12 of unemployment after being laid off from my digital marketing role, and honestly, I was starting to panic about the 26-week limit until I found this discussion. The advice about starting backup plans around week 20 is so smart - I'm definitely going to start researching SNAP and other assistance programs now rather than waiting. And I love the suggestion about temp-to-perm positions with marketing agencies. I've been so focused on permanent roles that I hadn't really considered that route, but it makes total sense for building experience and potentially leading to something permanent. One thing I wanted to add that's been working for me: I've been attending virtual marketing webinars (many are free through HubSpot, Mailchimp, etc.) and not only are they great for staying current with industry trends, but I've actually made some valuable connections through the chat features and follow-up networking. A couple of people have even offered to review my portfolio or make introductions to their networks. Also, for anyone struggling with the phone system at DOL - that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. I used it last week to get clarification on reporting freelance work and it saved me hours of frustration. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences and advice here. It's making this whole process feel much more manageable knowing there's a community of people who understand exactly what we're going through!