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!

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!

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!

If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to ask questions about your specific situation, I had good luck using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself when I had questions about my base period wages.

Just wanted to add that you should definitely file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting period before benefits start. New York has eliminated the unpaid waiting week, but there can still be processing delays. Also, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready - W-2s, pay stubs, and any separation paperwork from your employer. The $75k salary you mentioned shouldn't be an issue at all for eligibility, and you'll likely qualify for close to the maximum weekly benefit amount.