The system is set up to confuse people and make them give up. I've been fighting with NYS Department of Labor for months over my claim and they just keep giving me the runaround. Good luck getting any straight answers from them.

To give you the basic eligibility requirements: you need to have earned at least $2,600 in one quarter during your base period, OR earned at least $3,900 total in your base period with at least $2,340 in your highest quarter. Your base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. If you were laid off or lost your job due to lack of work, you should qualify.

Hey QuantumQueen! I went through this exact nightmare last year when my previous employer went under and I had ZERO documentation. Here's what saved me: I contacted my old auto insurance company and requested a copy of my policy application from when I was working there - it had my employment info and salary listed! Also check if you have any old loan applications, rental applications, or even gym membership forms that might have your work info on them. The other thing that really helped was creating a timeline document with everything I could remember - exact dates I worked, my manager's name, what my duties were, even the address of the workplace. I included screenshots of Google Maps showing the business location and wrote up detailed explanations of why I couldn't provide each specific document they requested. DOL ended up accepting my bank statements + the insurance document + my detailed timeline. The key is showing them you're making every possible effort to comply. Don't let them intimidate you - there are always alternatives!

Just went through this myself a few months ago! When my employer closed down suddenly, I was in the same boat - no W2s, couldn't get paystubs, the whole place just vanished. What ended up working for me was submitting a "document unavailable affidavit" along with whatever alternative proof I could gather. I wrote a sworn statement explaining that my employer shut down operations, included the business closure date if I could find it online, and listed every attempt I made to get the standard documents (calling old phone numbers, checking business registry websites, etc.). Then I attached my bank statements showing direct deposits, some old email exchanges with my manager about work stuff, and even a LinkedIn screenshot showing I had listed that company as my employer. The DOL case worker told me they see this situation ALL the time, especially with small businesses that close suddenly. As long as you submit SOMETHING by their deadline and can show the deposits in your bank account, you should be fine. The worst thing is not responding at all. You've got plenty of options based on what everyone else suggested too - definitely try multiple approaches!

just keep filing ur weekly claims and update address thats it... i moved to texas and still get my ny benefits no problem

I went through this exact situation when I moved from NY to North Carolina about 6 months ago! The key thing to remember is that you keep your NYS Department of Labor claim active - don't let it lapse thinking you need to start over in Virginia. Make sure to update your address immediately through the online portal or by calling them. One tip: when you're doing your job searches in Virginia, keep detailed records because the reporting format might be slightly different than what you're used to in NY. Also, don't be surprised if some Virginia employers seem confused about your NY unemployment status - just explain that it's completely normal and legal. You've got this!

The burden of proof is on your employer to show you committed misconduct. Being bad at your job isn't misconduct - it has to be willful violation of company policy or something similar. Document everything you remember about your termination meeting and file that claim ASAP. You've got this!

I went through almost the exact same situation last year - warehouse job, "performance issues" after busy season, no written warnings. Filed my claim and got approved after about 3 weeks. The key is being factual when you describe the separation. Don't get emotional or defensive, just state that you were terminated for alleged performance issues despite having no prior disciplinary actions on record. The lack of documentation from your employer actually helps your case because it shows they didn't follow proper progressive discipline procedures. Stay strong and file that claim today!

The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They expect you to apply to jobs you're overqualified for just to meet quotas, then employers get annoyed with fake applications. Meanwhile actually finding work in your field takes real networking and targeted applications that might not happen every single week.

From what I understand, NYS DOL doesn't have real-time access to your online job applications through sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. They mainly verify through documentation requests during audits and may contact employers if there's a specific concern. The key is keeping thorough records - I save confirmation emails, note the job posting URLs, and track follow-up activities. Also worth noting that quality matters more than quantity - they'd rather see targeted applications to relevant positions than random applications just to meet the minimum requirement. The work search log they provide is actually pretty comprehensive for tracking everything you need.