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'm really sorry to hear about your company closing down after 15 years - that's such devastating news for you and all your coworkers. You absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a clear case of involuntary separation due to business closure, not any performance issues on your part. I went through a similar situation when my previous employer shut down operations unexpectedly, and while it's overwhelming at first, the process is actually quite manageable if you stay organized. Here's what I'd recommend: start gathering your documentation NOW while you still have access to everything. Get copies of recent pay stubs, any official closure announcements, your supervisor's contact info, and save screenshots of company emails about the shutdown. You can file your claim online at my.ny.gov starting the week you actually become unemployed (not before). One thing that really helped speed up my approval was asking HR for a brief letter on company letterhead confirming the closure date and that all employees were laid off due to business closure - this eliminates any questions about the separation reason. Also, if your company mentions severance pay, make sure to report that when filing as it might affect your benefit start date. Business closures are typically the most straightforward unemployment cases since there's no dispute about why you're filing. You're smart to start preparing early - that preparation will make everything go much smoother. Hang in there during this difficult transition!

I'm so sorry to hear about your company closing after 15 years - that's incredibly difficult news to process. You absolutely qualify for unemployment benefits since this is a business closure, which counts as involuntary separation through no fault of your own. Based on what others have shared, here's what I'd prioritize: First, start collecting documentation immediately while you still have workplace access - recent pay stubs, any closure announcements, supervisor contact info, and screenshots of company communications about the shutdown. Second, ask HR for an official letter on company letterhead confirming the closure date and that layoffs are due to business closure (not performance) - this seems to really speed up approval based on everyone's experiences here. You can file online at my.ny.gov starting the week you actually stop working, not before. If there's any severance offered, make sure to report that as it could affect benefit timing. The good news is business closures are typically straightforward cases since there's no question about separation reason. It's overwhelming now, but you're being smart by preparing early. Having your paperwork organized will make the whole process much smoother. Stay strong during this transition - you've got this!

Just wanted to jump in here as someone who's been following this thread closely and is about to go through the same process myself. My benefit year ends next week and I've been really anxious about what comes next, but reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly reassuring! The consistency in everyone's advice is really striking - the early morning application timing (7:30-8 AM on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday), having all employment records organized, keeping detailed job search documentation, and being prepared for that verification phone call. It's clear that preparation is absolutely key to making this process smoother. @Drake, @StarSailor, @Amina Diop, @Jungleboo Soletrain - thank you all for sharing such specific details about your recent experiences. It really helps to hear from people who just went through this successfully. The fact that several of you ended up with higher weekly amounts is encouraging too! I'm planning to apply first thing Tuesday morning with all my documents ready. Going to create that comprehensive job search spreadsheet this weekend and make sure I have every piece of employment info organized. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with the system being down for maintenance? Want to have a backup day in mind just in case Tuesday doesn't work out. Thanks again everyone for making this feel so much less overwhelming. This community support is amazing! 🙏

I just went through this exact process a few weeks ago and wanted to add my experience to this incredibly helpful thread! Yes, you can definitely reapply immediately after your benefit year expires - I was in the same worried state as you @Omar Fawzi. Here's what worked for me: • Applied online on a Tuesday at 8:15 AM (following the great timing advice from this community!) • Had all employment records from the past 2 years organized in a folder: W-2s, pay stubs, exact employment dates, employer contact details • Created a detailed job search tracker with company names, positions, application dates, and any networking activities • Kept my phone on during business hours - they called me 16 days after applying for a brief verification interview My processing took about 3 weeks total, and surprisingly my new weekly benefit amount was $12 higher than my previous claim due to some freelance work I'd done during my base period. The verification call was super straightforward - maybe 12 minutes where they confirmed employment dates and asked about 4-5 specific job applications. One thing I'd emphasize that others have mentioned - definitely include ALL work during your base period, even short-term contracts or gig work. They're thorough but fair in their verification process. The waiting period is nerve-wracking but the system does work! Keep certifying weekly during processing and maintain detailed job search records. You've got this! 💪 Reading through everyone's experiences in this thread really helped calm my nerves when I was going through it. This community support is invaluable!

Make sure you're reporting ALL earnings when you file your weekly claim, even if it's cash work or just a few hours. NYS Department of Labor cross-references with employers and not reporting can trigger an overpayment investigation. The formula is: Weekly Benefit Rate minus (Earnings minus 25% of Weekly Benefit Rate) = Your payment amount.

Just want to add that the earnings calculation can get tricky if you have variable hours each week. I learned the hard way that you need to report earnings for the week you actually worked, not when you got paid. So if you worked Monday-Friday but got paid the following Tuesday, those earnings count for the week you worked. Also, if your part-time earnings consistently put you over the benefit amount, NYS Department of Labor might eventually close your claim assuming you're no longer unemployed. Keep track of your hours and earnings carefully!