To clarify the main points: You can travel while collecting unemployment as long as you remain able and available for work. For a short trip like a wedding, you don't need to notify NYS Department of Labor. Just be honest on your weekly certification about your availability. If you're only gone for 2-3 days and could have accepted work if offered, you should be fine to certify normally for that week.

I just wanted to add that I've been dealing with this same situation - I'm on unemployment and had to travel for a funeral last month. What I learned is that the key question on your weekly certification is whether you were "able and available for work" each day. If you're only gone for a weekend wedding and would have been able to accept a job offer if one came up, you can still answer "yes" to that question. The NYS Department of Labor cares more about your willingness and ability to work than your exact geographic location for short trips. Just don't try to claim benefits for days when you genuinely weren't available. Have a great time at your sister's wedding!

Just make sure you have all your employment info ready when you apply - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. The NYS Department of Labor online system times out pretty quickly so have everything organized before you start.

One thing to add that helped me when I applied - make sure you apply online through the NY.gov website and not through any third-party sites. I almost got tricked by a fake site that looked official. The real application is completely free and you shouldn't have to pay anyone to help you file. Also, keep records of everything - screenshot your confirmation page after submitting and save any correspondence from NYS Department of Labor. Good luck Miguel, hope your claim goes through smoothly!

I'm new to this community and dealing with almost the exact same situation! I have an LLC for freelance digital marketing that I formed in early 2023, but it's been completely dormant since I was laid off from my full-time job in March. Like you, I disclosed the LLC ownership when I first applied for unemployment but have been really stressed about whether I'm answering the weekly certification questions correctly. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that the key is being transparent about ownership (which we all did by disclosing upfront) while accurately reporting that we're not actively working through our businesses. I've been consistently answering "no" to the self-employment questions each week since I'm genuinely not performing any marketing work through the LLC, but I was second-guessing myself until I found this thread. The weekly activity tracking log that multiple people have mentioned is such a smart idea - I'm definitely going to start documenting "no LLC activity" each week along with keeping my bank statements that show zero transactions. It's amazing how many people here have successfully navigated this exact scenario through honesty and consistent reporting. Thank you for posting this question that I think a lot of us dormant LLC owners were silently worrying about - this community is such a valuable resource for getting real answers rather than just speculation!

I'm new to this community and facing the exact same situation! I have an LLC for freelance consulting that I set up in 2022, made very little income from it (under $500 total), and it's been completely inactive since I was laid off in February. Like you, I disclosed the LLC upfront when applying for unemployment but have been really anxious about the weekly certifications. This entire thread has been incredibly helpful - it's so reassuring to see that multiple people have successfully navigated this by being transparent about ownership while accurately reporting zero work activity. I've been answering "no" to the self-employment questions since I'm genuinely not doing any consulting work, but seeing everyone's consistent experiences really validates this approach. I'm definitely going to start that weekly activity log that so many people recommended - documenting "no LLC activity" each week seems like a smart way to stay organized. Thank you for asking the question that I think many of us with dormant LLCs have been worried about but hesitant to bring up. This community is amazing for sharing real experiences instead of just guessing about these complex situations!

I went through this exact situation about 2 years ago with NYS DOL and can share what happened in my case. My employer contested my claim alleging I violated company policy, but they ended up being a no-show at the hearing. The administrative law judge proceeded with the hearing as scheduled and spent about 30-40 minutes asking me detailed questions about the incident, my work history, any prior disciplinary actions, and company policies. Even though my employer wasn't there to cross-examine me, the judge was still very thorough and wanted specific details about dates, times, and circumstances. I had prepared documentation including emails and my employee handbook, which helped support my testimony. The judge explained that they would review all available evidence including whatever my employer had submitted initially when they contested the claim. I received the decision about 2 weeks later ruling in my favor. My advice would be to prepare as thoroughly as if your employer will be there - have your timeline of events clear, bring any supporting documents, and be ready to address the specific misconduct allegations they made. The fact that they're not showing up to defend their position often suggests they don't have strong evidence, but don't assume it's an automatic win. Stay focused on presenting your side clearly and honestly.

I actually work as a paralegal and have observed many NYS DOL unemployment hearings. Here's what typically happens when an employer is a no-show: The administrative law judge will still conduct a full hearing, but they'll rely heavily on your testimony since the employer can't present their side or challenge your statements. However, they will have whatever documentation your employer submitted when they initially contested your claim, so be prepared to address those specific allegations. The judge will ask detailed questions about the incident that led to your termination, any company policies involved, prior warnings or disciplinary actions, and your understanding of what happened. Even without your employer present, you still need to prove that your termination wasn't for misconduct - it's not automatically ruled in your favor. That said, employer no-shows often indicate they don't have strong evidence to support their misconduct claim. Make sure you have a clear timeline of events, any supporting documentation (emails, handbook, witness contact info), and be prepared to answer follow-up questions that might challenge your version of events. The judge needs to make a decision based on credible evidence, so being thorough and honest in your testimony is crucial. Good luck with your hearing!

I'm also going through this same situation - my benefits are ending in about 2 weeks after 22 weeks of job searching and I was really starting to worry about what options I had left. This thread has been absolutely incredible and way more helpful than anything I could find through official channels! I had no idea about most of these resources like the One-Stop Career Centers, the 211 helpline, or that you can apply for Extended Benefits even when they're not active just to get on file. The library resources that Fatima mentioned are such a great addition too - I never thought to check what career services my local library might offer. I'm definitely going to start with calling 211 tomorrow and applying for EB, then reach out to both the workforce development center and my library to see what support they can provide. The utility hardship program tip is really practical too since I'm already worried about keeping up with bills once my benefits stop. It's honestly so reassuring to find this community and realize there are still multiple safety nets and resources available even when regular unemployment runs out. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much less alone in this situation. The job market is really tough right now but seeing how supportive everyone is here and how many different options there are to explore gives me hope that we can all get through this transition together. Thank you everyone for sharing such detailed and actionable advice!

I'm also in this exact same situation - my benefits are ending in just 6 days after 20 weeks of searching and I was honestly starting to panic until I found this amazing thread! Like everyone else has said, this has been way more helpful than any official government resource I've tried to navigate. I had no idea about most of these options like the One-Stop Career Centers, TAA benefits, or applying for EB even when it's not active just to get on file. The library career services tip is fantastic too - I never thought to check what my local library might offer beyond basic computer access. I'm definitely going to call 211 first thing tomorrow and apply for EB, then reach out to both the workforce development center and library to see what support they can provide. The utility hardship program advice is really practical since I'm already stressed about covering bills once my benefits stop. It's honestly such a relief to find this supportive community and realize there are still multiple safety nets available even when regular UI runs out. The job market feels absolutely brutal right now but reading everyone's experiences and seeing how you're all helping each other navigate this gives me real hope. Thank you all for sharing such detailed, actionable advice and creating this incredible resource for people in our situation - you're literally helping us get through one of the most stressful times possible!