the whole system is messed up they should just make it simple but they want people to give up and not get benefits thats why they make it so complicated

Glad to hear you got through and got some answers! That 1.5 hour wait is pretty typical unfortunately. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - when you file your new claim, make sure you have all your employer information from the past 18 months ready, not just your most recent job. The system looks at your entire base period to calculate your new benefit amount. Also, if your new claim gets approved for a lower weekly amount than your previous claim, you might be eligible to stay on your old claim through something called a "transitional claim" - definitely ask about that when you call. Hope your payment comes through soon!

The whole system is rigged against workers anyway. Companies know exactly how to fire people 'for cause' to avoid paying higher unemployment taxes. Meanwhile we're stuck trying to figure out these impossible rules just to get benefits we already paid into

I went through something similar a few months ago. The key thing I learned is that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you had a "compelling reason" to quit. Toxic behavior from supervisors can qualify, but you really need solid documentation. I kept a detailed log with dates, times, and what happened each incident. Also saved any written communications that showed the problematic behavior. When I applied, I wrote a clear timeline in my application explaining how I tried to address the issues internally first. It took a while to get approved but they eventually ruled in my favor. The documentation made all the difference - don't just rely on your word against theirs.

This is really helpful information! I've been stressing about this for weeks thinking I was missing some important submission deadline. So just to confirm - I keep my detailed records of job applications, interviews, networking events, etc., but I only need to provide them to NYS DOL if they specifically request them during an audit or claim review? And the requirement is still 3 qualifying work search activities per week, correct? I want to make sure I'm doing everything right to avoid any issues with my benefits.

I went through this same confusion when I first started collecting benefits! The documentation requirements can be really overwhelming at first. One tip I learned the hard way - make sure you're keeping track of the specific METHOD you used for each job search activity (like "applied through company website" vs "submitted resume via Indeed" vs "attended job fair"). If you do get audited, they want those details. Also, networking events and job fairs definitely count as qualifying activities, so don't overlook those opportunities. I keep a simple notebook where I jot down everything right after I do it - that way I don't forget the details later.

Try contacting your state assembly person's office! Seriously, this was the ONLY thing that worked for me after weeks of calling NY unemployment with no luck. Their office has special contacts at the DOL and can often push claims through faster. Google your district and give them a call.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! My EAD expired while I was collecting unemployment and they cut me off for 3 weeks. The good news is you absolutely can get backpay once you show them your renewed permit. Here's what worked for me: 1. Upload your new work permit to your online account ASAP 2. Call the unemployment line - yes it's a nightmare but you HAVE to speak to someone. The automated system won't fix this 3. When you get through (and you will eventually), ask specifically for a "tier 2" agent who can handle work authorization issues 4. Have your old permit, new permit, and USCIS receipt ready It took me about a week to get through to the right person, but once I did they processed everything in one call and I had my backpay within 3 business days. Don't let them tell you that you're not eligible for those weeks - as long as you had a pending renewal application, you should get paid for that time period. Stay persistent! The system is frustrating but it does work eventually.

The whole base period thing is so confusing!!! I wish they would just look at your last year of work and be done with it. Why does it have to be these weird quarter calculations that nobody understands?

The quarter system can definitely be confusing at first! One thing that helped me understand it better is that they use completed quarters, so if you're filing your claim in the middle of a quarter, that current quarter won't count toward your base period. Also, @Cameron Black, regarding your specific situation - since you worked consistently for 8 months in 2024, you should easily meet both the total earnings requirement ($2,600) and the high quarter requirement ($1,300) that @Ruby Garcia mentioned. The key is having that recent work attachment, which it sounds like you definitely have.