Just wanted to add some reassurance here - I went through this exact situation last year when my company had layoffs. My manager also made comments about how filing would "hurt the company," but I filed anyway because I needed the benefits. Nothing happened to me in terms of references or retaliation. In fact, when I contacted them months later for a reference for a new job, they were completely professional about it. The reality is that most employers understand layoffs happen and unemployment is part of the deal. The good employers won't hold it against you, and the bad ones... well, you probably don't want their reference anyway! You paid into this system through your work, so don't let anyone guilt you out of using it when you legitimately need it.

I just went through the same situation a few months ago! My employer also tried to make me feel guilty about filing, saying it would "cost the company money." But here's what I learned - they've already been paying unemployment insurance taxes on your wages the entire time you worked there. When you file, you're not taking money directly from them or causing them to get fined. Their tax rate might go up slightly in the future based on their claims history, but that's literally how insurance works. You worked there for 3 years and got laid off due to budget cuts - that's exactly what unemployment benefits are designed for! Don't let them manipulate you into not filing when you have every legal right to these benefits. I was worried about references too, but when I needed one later, my former employer was completely professional about it. The good news is that NY law actually prohibits employers from retaliating against you for filing a legitimate unemployment claim. File your claim and don't feel guilty about it. You earned those benefits!

yeah they'll disqualify you for basically anything these days, the whole system sucks

Another thing to be aware of is that NYS Department of Labor also disqualifies people for: 1) Not reporting income from part-time work while collecting benefits 2) Being unavailable due to vacation or personal reasons without notifying them 3) Collecting benefits while actually working (even if it's just a few hours) 4) Not responding to their requests for information within the deadline. I'd recommend keeping detailed records of everything - your job search activities, any income you earn, and all communications with DOL. The documentation requirements can be pretty strict so it's better to over-document than under-document.

Just to add - make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log. NYS Department of Labor can ask for proof anytime. Don't let that part surprise you when you start receiving benefits.

I went through this same situation last year when I got laid off from my marketing job. The reality check is tough - you're looking at around $504 max per week in NY, which is roughly 42% of what you were making at $1,200/week. I had to quickly adjust my budget and cut non-essential expenses. One tip: start your application ASAP since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and processing can take 2-3 weeks. Also consider picking up some freelance or gig work if possible - you can earn up to a certain amount without it affecting your benefits. The job search requirement is real too, so start networking and applying right away. Hang in there!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with a similar situation where my NY unemployment benefit seems calculated incorrectly. It's really encouraging to see Leo's success story and how the community came together to help solve this. For anyone else facing this issue, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1. Ask specifically for the "Monetary Determination Unit" when you call 2. Have all your wage documentation (pay stubs, W2s) ready 3. Don't accept the calculation if it doesn't match your recent earnings 4. Consider using services like Claimyr if you can't get through on your own The fact that Leo's benefit went from $318 to $462 per week really shows how important it is to question these calculations when something seems off. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that makes these communities so valuable!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community but found this thread incredibly helpful as I'm dealing with a similar base period calculation issue. Like Leo, I was recently laid off (in January 2025) and my unemployment benefit amount seems way lower than it should be based on my recent earnings. Reading through all your experiences, it's clear that getting to the right person at NYSDOL makes all the difference. The fact that multiple people mentioned the Monetary Determination Unit specifically gives me hope that there's actually a clear path to getting this resolved. Leo, congratulations on getting your situation fixed! That $144 per week difference really adds up. I'm curious - when you called through Claimyr, did you have to wait on hold for the 25 minutes, or did they actually connect you within that timeframe? I've been hesitant to try paid services, but after reading about everyone's success with it, it might be worth the cost to avoid weeks of trying to get through on my own. For anyone else dealing with this, I'm going to gather all my pay stubs from the last 5 quarters before calling. Based on what everyone shared, it sounds like having that documentation ready is crucial for getting the issue resolved quickly once you finally reach the right department. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these complicated bureaucratic processes!

You should be fine honestly. I've seen way worse cases get approved by NYS Department of Labor. As long as you weren't stealing or fighting with customers or something crazy like that, poor performance alone rarely disqualifies someone from benefits.

I was in a similar situation last year - got terminated from a warehouse job for not meeting picking rates after about 6 months. Like you, I had verbal warnings but no formal write-ups or improvement plans. I filed for unemployment immediately and was approved within about 10 days. The key thing is that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you were willfully not performing versus just struggling to meet expectations. Since you were trying but couldn't hit the quotas, that's not misconduct. My advice is to file ASAP and be completely honest about the reason for termination. Don't try to sugar-coat it - just explain that you were terminated for not meeting production standards despite your efforts. The waiting can be stressful but most performance-related terminations get approved. Good luck!