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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.
I'm facing the same dilemma at 60! After researching this extensively, you're right that unemployment is off the table for voluntary retirement. I ended up looking into a few alternatives: some people do freelance consulting in their field (you can often set your own schedule), and there are programs like AARP's job placement services that focus on mature workers. Also worth checking if your state has any workforce development programs for older adults. The gap between retirement and accessing retirement funds is definitely challenging - you might want to talk to a financial advisor about strategies like Roth IRA conversions or part-time work that won't impact future Social Security benefits too much.
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.
This is really helpful information about the "constructive dismissal" angle! I hadn't considered that early retirement packages offered by companies might be treated differently than self-initiated retirement. @af9141880afe Do you happen to know what kind of documentation would be most important to have if someone finds themselves in that gray area situation? Like would emails from HR about company-wide restructuring be sufficient, or do they need more formal paperwork?
@af9141880afe That's really insightful about the constructive dismissal angle - I hadn't realized there was that distinction! For the original poster @a190b316302e, it sounds like since you're planning to voluntarily retire rather than being offered an early retirement package by your company, you'd unfortunately fall into the "voluntary separation" category that disqualifies you from unemployment benefits. But if your company happens to offer any early retirement incentives due to restructuring between now and when you retire, that could potentially change things. Definitely worth keeping an eye on!
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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.
I'm in the exact same boat! Just started dealing with unemployment claims this month and that "personal identification" phrase had me completely stumped too. I kept thinking they wanted me to send them a copy of my driver's license or something official through the mail! It's really reassuring to see so many people had the same confusion - makes me feel less like I was missing something obvious. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm making a checklist with all the possible info they might ask for: SSN, PIN, claim ID, license number, filing dates, address, bank info, etc. Definitely calling first thing in the morning when the lines hopefully aren't as busy. Good luck tomorrow - sounds like we're both much better prepared now thanks to this community!
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.
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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.
Thanks for the tip about company-wide documentation! I actually do have the email announcing the layoffs that went to all employees, plus a news article about the company cutting 200 jobs. Should I submit those now or wait until the hearing? Also wondering if I should try to contact some of my former coworkers who were also laid off - would their statements help even if they didn't get denied like I did?
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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.
This is really helpful info about contributory vs non-contributory pensions - I had no idea that could make a difference! My pension is contributory since I've been paying into it for 15 years. Do you happen to know if contributory pensions have any advantages when it comes to the offset calculation with NYS Department of Labor? And getting everything in writing is great advice - I definitely don't want any surprises down the road.
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.
This is exactly the kind of detailed information I was looking for! The fact that they might only offset by the employer's contribution portion for contributory pensions could make a big difference in my case. Since I've been contributing to my pension for 15 years, I should definitely find out what percentage I contributed versus my employer. Do you remember how long it took NYS Department of Labor to give you the official calculation in writing? I want to make sure I have all this sorted out before I start filing my weekly claims.
Mei Liu
Just wanted to add that many credit unions also participate in shared branching networks where you can use their ATMs for free with the KeyBank unemployment card. SECU, Bethpage FCU, and several others around NY don't charge fees. Also, if you're ever stuck and need cash urgently, some bodegas and corner stores will do cash back with small purchases (like buying a pack of gum) - just ask the cashier first. The unemployment situation is stressful enough without worrying about ATM fees eating into your benefits.
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StarStrider
•This is really helpful advice, especially about the credit unions and bodegas! I never would have thought to ask corner stores about cash back. You're absolutely right that ATM fees just make an already tough situation worse. I'm going to make a list of all these options so I always have a backup plan when I need cash. Thanks for taking the time to share all these alternatives!
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Mei Liu
One thing I learned the hard way is to always check your balance before withdrawing cash, especially if you're not sure about fees. I got hit with a $3 charge once at a random ATM because I didn't realize it wasn't part of the free network. The KeyBank mobile app actually has an ATM locator feature that shows you the nearest fee-free locations, which has been a lifesaver. Also, if you do accidentally use a fee-charging ATM, you can sometimes call KeyBank customer service and they'll refund the fee if it's your first time - they did that for me when I explained I was new to the unemployment card system.
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