The NYS Department of Labor system is so frustrating! I've been trying to figure out my potential benefits too and their website is terrible. At least with $400/week you'll probably qualify easily since you've been working steadily. I had gaps in my employment and it made everything more complicated.

I went through this same calculation last year when I was laid off from my warehouse job. The key thing to remember is that NYS looks at your "base period" which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at roughly April 2023 through March 2024. With your steady work history at $400/week, you should definitely qualify. I'd estimate you'll get somewhere between $180-200 per week, but definitely use that online calculator someone mentioned - it's more accurate than guessing. Also heads up that benefits max out at 26 weeks unless there are extensions, so start looking for work right away if you do get laid off.

honestly the whole phone interview thing is just them going through the motions most of the time... they probably already decided before they even called you based on what your employer said. just my experience but dont get your hopes up too much

I just went through this exact same process last month! After my phone interview, it took about 12 days to get the determination letter. The key thing is to keep checking your online account - mine updated to show "determination issued" about 2 days before I actually received the letter in the mail. Also, make sure you're still filing your weekly claims like others mentioned. The waiting is brutal but try to stay patient. In my case, they did approve me and I got all my back pay within 3 business days of the approval. The adjudicator told me they really just want to make sure your story matches what your employer reported, so as long as you were honest about your situation, you should be okay.

has anyone tried the callback feature? i heard they were testing it in some areas

Just checking back - did you manage to get through? I'm curious if any of these suggestions worked for you.

The unemployment system is so frustrating when you're dealing with health issues on top of everything else. They make it seem like you have to be 100% healthy to qualify for anything. Hope you figure out a solution that works for your situation.

I'm going through something similar right now. From what I've learned, you might want to look into Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) first if your employer offers it - that could protect your job while you're dealing with your health issues. For unemployment, the "able and available" requirement is really strict, but there are some exceptions. If you can do certain types of work with accommodations, document that with your doctor. Also, New York has Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) through the state that might be more appropriate than unemployment if you're unable to work due to illness. You can apply for TDI through the Workers' Compensation Board, not the Department of Labor. It's worth exploring all your options before deciding which route to take.

UPDATE: I went to the career center this morning and got exactly what I needed! They printed a UI Monetary Benefit Determination letter showing my claim details including the end date of September 6th. Took about 45 minutes total with the wait. The staff was really helpful. Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

For anyone else dealing with this, I just want to add that if you're in a time crunch like I was last month, you can also try contacting your local assemblyperson's office. They often have direct lines to state agencies and can help expedite document requests. I got my unemployment end date letter within 2 business days after their office made a call on my behalf. Worth trying if the career center is too far or if you're hitting roadblocks with the other methods!