ugh this whole system is so confusing why cant they just make it simple!! i never know when anything expires or what im supposed to do

One thing that helped me was setting a calendar reminder about 2 months before my benefit year end date so I could start preparing. Also, if you're getting close to the end and still actively job searching, you might want to start gathering your wage documents early for the new claim. The transition can be smoother if you have all your paperwork ready to go. And definitely keep certifying every week right up until your benefit year ends - don't let any weeks lapse thinking it doesn't matter.

One thing to watch out for - make sure your seasonal employer reports your wages correctly to NYS Department of Labor. I had issues because my summer job didn't report all my hours properly and it affected my benefit calculation. Double check your wage history online after you file your claim.

Also keep in mind that as a seasonal worker, you might be eligible for benefits even if you don't have a full year of work history. NYS Department of Labor looks at your "base period" which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Since ski resorts usually operate winter to spring, make sure you include any other work you did during the off-season last year when calculating your eligibility. Even part-time or temporary work can help establish your claim.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who just started collecting unemployment in January 2025 - I'm seeing all these stories about people finding updated rates in their "Benefit Rate Information" section that don't match their actual payments, and it's making me wonder if I should be proactive about checking this. My claim just started so I assumed whatever rate I'm getting is correct, but now I'm thinking maybe I should verify that I'm actually receiving the 2025 rate from the beginning rather than potentially missing out on money and having to call later for retroactive payments. Has anyone who filed their initial claim in 2025 had issues with getting the correct rate from the start, or is this mainly affecting people whose claims were already active when the increase went into effect? This thread has been super eye-opening about how poor the communication is from NYS Department of Labor!

I just went through this exact same situation last month! I was getting the same weekly amount since filing in November 2024 and had no idea about any increase until I saw a similar discussion in another forum. The key thing I learned is that you really need to check the "Benefit Rate Information" section in your my.ny.gov account - not just your payment history. When I finally looked there, I found an updated rate that had been sitting there since early January showing about $19 more per week than I was actually receiving. I called NYS Department of Labor and they confirmed it was a processing delay on their end. The good news is they made it retroactive back to January 1st, so I got a nice chunk of back payments in my next deposit. Definitely call if you're not seeing the increase by now - you shouldn't have to miss out on money because of their system delays!

just a heads up - they might ask for proof of your substitute certification and stuff like that during the application process so have all your paperwork ready

I went through this exact situation last year as a substitute teacher in the Rochester area. The application process was actually pretty straightforward once I understood what they needed. You'll definitely want to list all the districts you worked for - I had to provide employer information for 8 different school districts. The wage verification took a few weeks since they had to contact each district separately, but my claim was approved. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of all the sub jobs I applied for during my claim period, including screenshots of online applications and emails. Also, don't forget that you can work part-time while on unemployment - so if you pick up occasional summer tutoring or camp work, just report those earnings when you certify each week.

Just make sure you understand the benefit formula. In NY, your weekly benefit rate gets reduced by 25% of whatever you earn over $143. So if your weekly benefit would normally be $300 and you earn $200 that week, you'd get $300 minus 25% of ($200-$143) = $300 - $14.25 = $285.75. It's worth doing the math to see if it makes sense for your situation.

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when my hours at the warehouse got cut from full-time to part-time. The application process is straightforward - you file online just like regular unemployment, but make sure to indicate that you're still employed with reduced hours. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of my schedule changes and pay stubs from before and after the reduction. NYS DOL may ask for documentation to verify your hours were actually cut. Also, don't stress too much about the weekly certifications - just be honest about your earnings and hours worked each week. The system is designed to help people in situations like yours, so as long as you're truthful in your reporting, you should be fine.