Other things that can disqualify you: being self-employed, not being a US citizen or authorized to work, being in school full-time without approval, being incarcerated, or receiving certain types of pension payments. Also if you're not physically able to work due to illness or disability, you'd need to apply for disability benefits instead.

If your cousin wants to appeal, she should do it even if it seems like a wage issue. Sometimes there are errors in how NYS Department of Labor calculated the wages or they might be missing some employment records. The appeal process is free and she has nothing to lose. Make sure she appeals within 30 days of the denial letter - that deadline is strict. During the appeal, she can also submit any missing wage documentation like pay stubs or W-2s that might help her case.

Had the exact same problem last week! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - tried on my phone instead of laptop and it went through. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions or ad blockers, they can mess with the site's javascript. If you're still stuck, definitely try the early morning trick @Lim Wong mentioned - got through at 6:30am on my second try. The system is trash but don't give up, you got this! 💪

Just went through this nightmare last month! The NY DOL website is absolutely broken. What ended up working for me was using my phone's mobile browser in incognito/private mode instead of my computer. Also had to disable all my browser extensions and turn off my VPN. Took like 6 tries but finally got through around 7am on a Tuesday. Pro tip: have all your employment info written down beforehand - dates, employer addresses, reason for separation, etc. That way if it crashes you can zip through the form faster on your next attempt. Don't let this system beat you, keep pushing! The benefits are worth the headache 💪 If all else fails, calling first thing Monday morning at 8am sharp gives you the best shot at getting through to a human who can help.

Congrats on getting it resolved! This thread is super helpful for anyone dealing with the same issue. I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's crazy how much better the outcome is when you know the right terminology to use - "T42 verification exception" seems to be the magic phrase that gets you past the script-reading reps to someone who can actually help. For anyone else reading this, the key takeaways seem to be: 1. Don't wait the full 10 days if you can help it 2. Use specific terminology when calling back 3. Document everything 4. Consider using callback services if you're stuck in redial hell Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with NYSDOL's confusing system!

This is exactly the kind of detailed, helpful thread that makes this community so valuable! I'm dealing with a similar IDme verification issue right now (different problem - address verification stuck in limbo) and seeing how @QuantumLeap got their email mismatch resolved gives me hope. The "T42 verification exception" terminology is going to be a game-changer - I had no idea there were specific internal terms that could help cut through the confusion. I've been getting the runaround for 5 days now with three different reps telling me three different things about what's needed to fix my address discrepancy. Going to try the Claimyr service today and use that exact phrase when I get through. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here instead of just venting (though the venting is totally justified too!). This is why I love this community - real solutions from people who've actually been through it.

thanks everyone this thread answered my question too! been wondering about this for weeks

Just to clarify the earlier responses - in NY, you can work part-time and still collect partial unemployment benefits. The important thing is to always report your gross weekly earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly certification. As long as your earnings are less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50, you'll still get some benefits. Also remember that if you work 4 or more days in a week, even if the total hours are low, it might affect your eligibility for that week. The NYS DOL website has a partial benefits calculator that can help you estimate what you'd receive based on your earnings.

Wait so if I just started a new job in November but got laid off in December, those wages won't count toward my base period? That seems really unfair since that was my highest paying job.

I went through this exact situation last year! The key thing to remember is that NYS Department of Labor uses quarters, not months, for base period calculations. So your September-December 2024 earnings would fall into Q3 and Q4 of 2024, which should definitely be included in your base period if you filed recently. The system automatically calculates both standard and alternate base periods and gives you whichever results in higher benefits - you don't need to request anything special. Just make sure all your employers properly reported your wages to the state, as that's usually where discrepancies come from.