UGH don't even get me started on the unemployment system. I swear they approve claims they shouldn't just to avoid doing the work to investigate properly. Had an employee quit without notice, claim they were "constructively dismissed" and somehow got approved for benefits. Cost me thousands in increased premiums.

Another cost to factor in is that NYS also charges employers for disability benefits (DBL) and paid family leave (PFL) on top of unemployment insurance. For 2025, DBL is 0.5% on wages up to $142.80 per year per employee, and PFL is about 0.511% capped around $385 annually per employee. So your total payroll tax burden for these programs combined will be higher than just the UI rate. Make sure you're budgeting for all three when calculating your labor costs!

Just went through this myself - had worked 10 weeks at a new job before getting laid off in January. Turns out even though I had the days, my wages were spread across the wrong quarters for the base period calculation. Had to file for an alternate base period review which took another 3 weeks but eventually got approved. The key is understanding that it's about wages earned in specific time periods, not just total days worked.

I went through something similar recently. The confusion about the "90 days" comes from people mixing up different requirements. NYS doesn't have a strict 90-day rule, but you do need to have worked enough to earn sufficient wages in your base period quarters. Since you worked 8 weeks and earned $4,200, you might actually qualify depending on the timing. I'd recommend calling the DOL directly or filing anyway - sometimes the online system will tell you right away if you meet the monetary requirements. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised. Also keep in mind that if you don't qualify under the regular base period, you can request the alternate base period which uses more recent quarters.

Just wanted to add that you'll still need to do the job search requirements even while on SSDI. NYS Department of Labor requires three work search contacts per week unless you're on standby status. Make sure you keep your job search log updated when you file your weekly claims.

I just went through this exact situation last year! I'm on SSDI and was able to collect unemployment when I lost my part-time job. The NYS Department of Labor did ask me to explain how I could be available for work while on disability during my phone interview, but I explained that my disability allows me to work part-time with accommodations. They approved my claim without any issues. Just be honest about your work limitations when you file - they understand that SSDI recipients can often still work in some capacity. Good luck!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at NYSDOL! They explained that I should have reported the training hours in the week I did them, even though I wasn't paid yet. They fixed my claim and explained exactly how to report going forward. For anyone in a similar situation: When you have a firm start date but are in a gap period, make sure you report any training hours during the week you actually did the training. And definitely call to explain your situation if the system flags your account. When I start my after-school job on 9/13, I'll need to report those hours each week, and my benefits will be reduced accordingly. The same applies when I start my driving job. Thank you all so much for your help! I was really stressing out about this.

This whole situation perfectly shows how broken the NY unemployment system is for people with seasonal or irregular work schedules. I'm glad you got it resolved, but it shouldn't take this much stress and confusion just to report training hours correctly! For anyone else reading this thread - definitely save it as a reference. The key takeaways seem to be: 1) Always report training hours in the week you actually do them, regardless of when you get paid, 2) Call NYSDOL immediately if the system flags your account, and 3) Be prepared to explain gap periods between training and actual work start dates. It's ridiculous that we have to become experts in unemployment law just to collect benefits we're entitled to. But at least this thread shows there are solutions if you're persistent enough to get through to an actual human being!

don't bother with the mail lol... it'll take forever 😫 Either get through on the phone or find an actual office to drop off the forms. Phone is faster if you can get thru

OP, I just went through this nightmare last month! Here's what worked for me: 1) Mail your forms to the Albany address that @Natasha Petrova mentioned if you have the barcode forms - use certified mail with tracking. 2) Fill everything out in BLACK INK ONLY (learned this the hard way). 3) Write your claim number on EVERY single page. 4) Take photos of everything before you send it. 5) If you need to talk to someone urgently, I had success with Claimyr - got connected to an agent who expedited my case. The whole verification process took about 2.5 weeks once they received my documents. Hang in there, it does get resolved eventually! Also check your online inbox daily once the site is working - they send important updates there.