I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! Was on short-term disability for 3 months after a car accident, got medical clearance to return to work, but my company had eliminated my position during "cost-cutting measures" while I was out. Filed for unemployment immediately after getting my clearance letter and was approved within about 2 weeks. The key things that helped me were: 1) Having my medical clearance documentation ready, 2) Being clear that I was able and available for work, and 3) explaining that my job loss was due to company restructuring, not anything I did. NYS Department of Labor was actually very understanding about the situation. Don't stress too much - this type of scenario is more common than you'd think, and as long as you're medically cleared and ready to work, you should be fine. Make sure to file your weekly certifications on time even while waiting for approval!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm literally in the exact same situation right now - was on short-term disability for 4 months due to a workplace injury, just got medical clearance to return to work yesterday, but HR told me this morning that my position was eliminated during a "reorganization" that happened 2 months ago while I was out. I've been panicking all day thinking I might not qualify for unemployment because of the disability period, but reading everyone's experiences here is such a huge relief! It sounds like having the medical clearance is the most important thing. I'm definitely going to file my claim tomorrow morning. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's so helpful to know I'm not alone in this situation and that there's hope for getting approved!

Been through this twice now. Keep filing, report income accurately, and save copies of everything. When the contract ends, your benefits should resume at the full amount automatically. Just make sure you're still meeting job search requirements during the contract if NYS Department of Labor requires it.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year with a 4-week consulting gig. The advice here is spot on - definitely keep filing your weekly claims and report every dollar you earn. What helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track my contract earnings each week so I could report accurately. The partial benefit calculation worked in my favor since the contract paid less than my full weekly benefit amount. One thing to note: make sure you understand if your contract work affects your job search requirements. In my case, I still had to log job search activities even while working the contract. The whole process was much smoother than I expected once I got into the routine of accurate reporting.

Just to add some clarity on the 25% rule that Liam mentioned - it's actually 25% of your weekly benefit rate OR $100, whichever is LESS. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you'd get $100 (25% of $400). But if your weekly benefit is $300, you'd only get $75 (25% of $300). After that threshold, it's dollar-for-dollar reduction. I found this out the hard way when I assumed it was always $100. Also, make sure you're reporting gross earnings before any expenses or fees that Uber takes out - NYS Department of Labor wants the total amount you earned, not what you actually received after their cuts.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also keep track of your vehicle expenses if you're driving for Uber Eats - gas, wear and tear, etc. While you still have to report the gross earnings to NYS Department of Labor, you can deduct those business expenses when you file your taxes next year since you'll be getting a 1099 from Uber. It won't help with your weekly unemployment calculation, but it'll save you money at tax time. Also, definitely download a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Stride - the IRS standard mileage deduction is pretty generous for delivery drivers and can add up to significant savings.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact same confusion about 3 weeks ago! That "claim can now be paid" email definitely means you're approved - I know it's frustrating that they don't just use clear language like "congratulations, your claim is approved" but that's NYSDOL for you! My payment took exactly 5 days to hit my account after getting that email. One thing I found really helpful was downloading my bank's mobile app since it often shows pending transactions before they fully process, which gave me peace of mind that the payment was on its way. Also want to emphasize what others have said about triple-checking your direct deposit info for any typos - a friend of mine had a single wrong digit in their routing number and it delayed their payment by over a week. The most important thing now is to keep doing those weekly certifications religiously, even while waiting for your first payment. I see you mentioned doing them on Sundays which is perfect - just don't skip any weeks or you'll create much bigger problems down the line. You're basically at the finish line now, just need to be patient for a few more days!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's currently going through the NY unemployment process for the first time! This entire thread has been absolutely invaluable - I filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting to hear something. Reading about everyone's experiences with that "claim can now be paid" email has really helped me understand what to look for and what timeline to expect. I had no idea that was their way of saying "approved" - the wording is so confusing! I've already bookmarked that automated phone line number (888-209-8124) that several people mentioned, and I'm definitely going to double-check my direct deposit information for any typos since multiple people have warned about that causing delays. The tip about setting up bank alerts is genius too. It's so reassuring to see that 5-8 days seems to be the normal range for that first payment to hit after getting the approval email. I've been doing my weekly certifications religiously every Sunday, so hopefully I'm on the right track. Thanks to everyone who's shared their real experiences and timelines - this kind of practical advice makes such a difference when you're navigating this process for the first time. Will definitely update everyone once I get through it myself!

The NYS Department of Labor system is such a nightmare. I swear they make it as difficult as possible on purpose. Good luck OP, you're gonna need it dealing with their bureaucracy.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago when I had to quit due to a toxic manager. The key thing is to file your claim right away - don't wait any longer! When you file online, there's a section where you can explain why you left your job. Be detailed about the hostile work environment and mention that you have documentation. NYS DOL will schedule a phone interview to go over your case, and that's when you'll present your evidence (those text messages and HR complaint). Even if it takes a few weeks to get a decision, you'll still get backdated benefits to when you first filed if they approve you. The worst thing you can do is wait longer - every day you delay is a day you could potentially lose benefits.