I'm in a similar situation - 55 and considering early retirement but definitely need some income bridge before I can access my 401k and Social Security. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like unemployment is off the table if you voluntarily retire. Has anyone looked into other options like part-time work or consulting in your field after retirement? I'm wondering if there are other state programs that might help with the transition period.

Just wanted to add some clarity here - I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. The NY Department of Labor is very strict about the "involuntary separation" requirement. Even if you negotiate a severance package as part of your retirement, it's still considered voluntary if you initiate the retirement process. However, if your company offers an early retirement package due to downsizing or restructuring, that might be treated differently - they sometimes consider those "constructive dismissals." You'd need to document that the company initiated the offer, not that you requested early retirement. Worth consulting with an employment attorney if you're in that gray area situation.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Been trying to call for almost two weeks and keep getting stuck on that "personal identification" requirement. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea they meant things like PIN numbers and claim IDs when they said "personal identification." It's so frustrating that they use such vague language instead of just telling you exactly what documents or information they need upfront. I'm definitely going to try calling again tomorrow morning with everything ready: my SSN, PIN from when I first filed, claim ID number, driver's license number, exact filing date, and mailing address. Hopefully that will finally be enough to get past their verification process! Thanks to everyone who shared what worked for them - this gives me so much more confidence going into my next call attempt.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm currently dealing with the exact same "personal identification" runaround and was getting nowhere until I found this conversation. I've been calling for over a week and getting frustrated because they keep saying my SSN isn't enough but won't specify what else they need. After reading everyone's experiences, I realize I was missing key pieces like my PIN and claim ID number. It's really annoying that they use such confusing terminology instead of just saying "we need your SSN, PIN, and claim ID to verify your account." I'm going to call back tomorrow with everything ready: SSN, PIN, claim ID, driver's license number, filing date, and address. Fingers crossed this finally gets me through to someone who can help with my delayed benefits! Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences - this is way more useful than anything on the official NYSDOL website.

Been there! The waiting is the worst part honestly.

I went through a similar appeal for misconduct denial last year - took about 10 weeks total from filing to decision. The key thing that helped my case was having documentation showing the layoff was company-wide, not just me. If you have any emails about the downsizing, company announcements, or even news articles about your employer's financial difficulties, make sure to submit those. Also, if any coworkers were laid off around the same time, their contact info could be useful as witnesses. The hearing officer really focused on whether there was a pattern of layoffs vs. individual termination in my case.

I went through this same situation last year when I was laid off at 60. One thing to keep in mind is that the pension offset calculation can get tricky if your pension payments aren't consistent month to month. NYS Department of Labor calculates it based on the weekly equivalent, so if your pension varies, you'll need to report the actual amount each week. Also, make sure you understand whether your pension is considered "contributory" (you paid into it) or "non-contributory" (employer fully funded) because the rules can be slightly different. I'd recommend getting everything in writing from NYS Department of Labor about exactly how they'll calculate your offset so there are no surprises later.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I learned from my experience. When I called NYS Department of Labor to ask about the contributory vs non-contributory pension question, they told me that for contributory pensions (where you paid into it), they may reduce the offset amount by the portion you contributed. So if you paid 50% of the contributions and your employer paid 50%, they might only offset your unemployment by half of the weekly pension amount. But this varies case by case and you really need to get the specific calculation from them in writing. Also, keep all your pension documentation handy when you file your claim - they'll want to see the details about your contribution history. The whole process is definitely confusing but it's worth getting the exact numbers from them rather than guessing.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - I can feel the desperation in your post and I completely understand! I went through something very similar a few months ago where my payments just stopped with that vague "call to resolve" message. I spent weeks calling every day, sometimes 20+ times per day, and got nowhere but busy signals and hangups. After reading through all these comments, I'm really struck by how many people are mentioning Claimyr. I'll be honest, I was super skeptical when I first heard about it because it sounds like one of those "too good to be true" services, but the consistent positive feedback from so many different people here is pretty convincing. When you're facing eviction and have bills piling up like you are, sometimes you just have to try everything available. I'd also definitely recommend trying those off-peak calling strategies people mentioned - Tuesday/Wednesday afternoons at random times instead of the usual rush hours when everyone else is calling. The system clearly can't handle the volume during peak times. Don't give up on getting what you're entitled to! The system is frustratingly broken but your benefits are rightfully yours. I know the stress is overwhelming when you're down to your last few hundred dollars, but based on everyone's experiences here, there are ways to get through eventually. Wishing you the best of luck and please update us on what works!

This whole situation is so frustrating and I really feel for you! I've been in a similar spot where my unemployment payments just stopped randomly and getting through to anyone felt impossible. After reading through all these comments, I'm honestly considering trying that Claimyr service that so many people are mentioning. I was really skeptical at first because it does sound too good to be true, but seeing all these different people say it actually worked for them is pretty compelling. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay a third party just to access our own benefits, but when you're facing eviction and bills are piling up, sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm also going to try some of those off-peak calling strategies people suggested - maybe Tuesday afternoon at random times instead of the usual peak hours. The stress of not knowing when your benefits will resume while watching your bank account drain is really terrible. Don't give up though - your benefits are rightfully yours and it seems like persistence really does pay off eventually. Please keep us posted on what ends up working for you!