I went through something similar after a back injury two years ago. One thing to keep in mind is that workers comp benefits aren't taxable, while unemployment benefits are. So even though your workers comp might be around $670/week (2/3 of your wages), you keep all of it. If you were getting unemployment at $500/week, you'd owe taxes on that. Also, workers comp will continue as long as you're unable to work, while unemployment has time limits. Definitely stick with workers comp for now, and once your doctor clears you for light duty, then you can explore other options if your employer can't accommodate you.

I work in workers comp administration and wanted to add a few more details that might help. In NY, workers comp pays 2/3 of your average weekly wage with no cap (unlike disability benefits), and as others mentioned, it's tax-free. The weekly amount is calculated based on your wages from the year before your injury. Since you're making $52k, that should work out to around $667 per week tax-free, which is significantly better than the $170 max from state disability. Also, workers comp will pay for all your medical treatment related to the injury, including physical therapy when you're ready. Once your doctor releases you to light duty, your employer is required to offer you suitable work if available, or your benefits continue. Don't switch to anything else right now - you're actually in the best financial position possible given your situation.

Just went through this nightmare myself last week! After trying FaxZero twice with no success, I ended up using MyFax's free trial and it worked perfectly. The key is making sure your phone camera produces really clear scans - I used the built-in document scanner in my iPhone's Notes app and it made a huge difference in transmission quality. Also, don't wait until the last minute like I did! Give yourself at least 2-3 days before your deadline in case you need to try multiple methods. And definitely save those confirmation emails - I screenshot everything now because NY unemployment's system is so unreliable. If the fax route completely fails, that Claimyr service people are mentioning sounds like a solid backup plan to get a real human who can give you email options.

I just went through this exact same situation two months ago and I feel your pain! After wasting an entire day trying different free fax apps that kept failing, I discovered something that saved me so much hassle - you can actually call the unemployment office and speak to a human who will often let you email your documents instead of faxing them. I know getting through on the phone is nearly impossible, but I used one of those callback services (Claimyr) that waits on hold for you. Cost me about $20 but the agent I spoke with gave me a direct email address and I had my documents submitted within an hour. The automated notices make it sound like fax is your only option, but the actual agents have way more flexibility. If you want to stick with faxing though, make sure your document scans are crystal clear - blurry images cause most transmission failures. Good luck and don't stress too much, there are definitely solutions!

been there done that with partial benefits last year when covid hit my restaurant job. honestly saved my butt financially. just be super careful about reporting your earnings accurately each week or you'll end up with an overpayment mess to deal with later

@Natasha Kuznetsova - I went through this exact situation last year when my retail hours got slashed. The application process is straightforward through my.ny.gov, but here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: when you certify weekly, be 100% accurate about your work days and earnings. Even small mistakes can trigger overpayment issues later. Also, keep detailed records of everything - your work schedule, pay stubs, and all correspondence with DOL. The partial benefits really do help bridge that income gap while you're looking for additional work or waiting for your hours to pick back up. You've got this!

Just file your claim anyway - the worst they can say is no. I filed not knowing if I qualified and turns out I did. The NYS Department of Labor system will tell you pretty quickly if you don't meet the wage requirements.

Just to add some clarity - you also need to have worked in at least two different quarters during your base period to qualify. So it's not just about hitting the $2,600 total, you need to have earnings spread across multiple quarters. This trips up a lot of people who had all their earnings concentrated in just one quarter. The NYS Department of Labor website has a benefit calculator that can help you figure out if you qualify before you file.

I'm in a similar situation with only a few weeks left. Does anyone know if the part-time work I did during unemployment affects my wage base for a new claim? I reported everything correctly but I'm worried it might not be enough to qualify for a new benefit year.

@Carmen Lopez I was in almost the exact same situation a few months ago - had about 24 weeks used up and was panicking about what came next. Andre is right that it's 26 weeks max for regular benefits. The key thing is whether you'll qualify for a new claim when your benefit year ends. You need to have earned enough wages in your new base period (which includes any part-time work you did while on unemployment). I'd strongly recommend trying to get through to NYS DOL to check your wage history and see if you'll qualify for a new claim. Also keep detailed records of all your job search activities - they may ask for proof when you file the new claim.