Hey Dylan! I went through this exact same panic last year when my benefits were about to end. The good news is that seeing the Extended Benefits Eligibility Questionnaire means everything is working as it should! When I filled mine out, I was super worried I didn't have enough job search activities documented, but I included everything I could think of - online applications, networking calls, even time spent researching companies and tailoring my resume. The key is being thorough and honest. One thing I wish someone had told me: after you submit the questionnaire, it can take up to 10 business days to get a decision, and there might be a brief gap in payments during the transition. This is totally normal but scary when you're watching your bank account. Just keep certifying every single week even if you don't see payments right away. Also, once you're on EB, they're much more likely to audit your job search activities, so start keeping detailed records now if you haven't already. Screenshots, confirmation emails, dates and times - everything helps if they ask for proof later. You're going to get through this! The system works, it's just not very user-friendly about explaining the process.

Dylan, I just want to add one more thing that might help ease your mind - I went through this transition in December and the questionnaire you're seeing is actually a really positive development! It means the NYSDOL system has already determined you're potentially eligible for Extended Benefits and is just gathering the required documentation. When filling it out, don't stress too much if you can't remember every single detail from 8 weeks ago. They understand that most people don't keep perfect records from day one. Just be as thorough as possible and include things like: - Online job applications (even if you didn't hear back) - Networking conversations or emails - Time spent at career centers or libraries doing job search - Professional development activities like online courses - Updating profiles on job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc. The fact that you're actively participating in this community and seeking help shows you're engaged in your job search process, which is exactly what they want to see. Once you submit that questionnaire, you should see a status update within a week, and if approved, payments typically resume pretty quickly. Hang in there - you're almost through the scary transition part!

I'm in a similar situation - got fired last month for what my manager called "performance issues" but I feel like they were looking for reasons to let me go. Reading through these responses is really encouraging, especially knowing that being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you. The documentation advice is spot on - I wish I had kept better records of the issues I was having at work. For anyone else going through this, don't be discouraged by what your employer tells you about your eligibility. The NYS Department of Labor makes the final determination, not your former boss. File your claim and let them review the facts.

I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago - got fired for attendance when I had legitimate medical reasons and car trouble. The good news is that NYS Department of Labor really does look at the whole picture, not just what your employer claims. When I filed my initial claim, I made sure to explain in detail about my medical appointments and car breakdowns in the "reason for separation" section. They actually called me for a phone interview about 2 weeks later to get more details, and I was approved. My advice is to be completely honest about everything when you file - don't try to downplay the attendance issues, but make sure you explain the legitimate reasons behind them. The fact that you had a family emergency and car problems shows these weren't just you being irresponsible. Keep any documentation you have (repair bills, family emergency details) and upload them if possible. You've got nothing to lose by applying, and from what you've described, you have a good chance of getting approved.

Has anyone actually gotten through to a human being at ny unemployment recently? I feel like I'm trying to call into a radio contest or something... just constant busy signals and disconnects.

Had this EXACT same situation happen to me in September! The website showing remaining days after your benefit year ends is basically a cruel joke. I made the mistake of continuing to certify for 2 weeks after my BYE date thinking those 52 remaining days meant something. Big mistake - ended up triggering a review that delayed my new claim by an extra month. Here's what I learned the hard way: File your new claim IMMEDIATELY and stop certifying on the old one. The remaining days display is just a system glitch that NY refuses to fix. Once your benefit year ends on that date, it's done regardless of what the counter says. I eventually got it sorted out but lost about 6 weeks of payments due to the delays. Don't make my mistake - get that new claim filed today if you can!

This is exactly what I'm going through right now! Been stuck in this same loop for over a week - can't certify online, can't reach anyone by phone. It's so frustrating when you're depending on these benefits and the system just breaks down like this. I'm going to try the 8am calling strategy tomorrow and staying on the line longer like people suggested. Really glad to see Diego got his resolved - gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

Just want to add another tip that worked for me - if you have multiple phones available (like a cell and landline, or ask family members to help), you can try calling from different numbers simultaneously at 8am. I did this last week and got through on my second phone after about 15 minutes while my first phone was still getting busy signals. Once you're in the queue on one line, you can hang up the others. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and recent work history ready before you call - they'll ask for all of this to verify your identity and remove the flag. The whole process took about 5 minutes once I actually got an agent on the line.

Look I worked for unemployment before (not anymore thank god lol). Here's the deal - regular UI benefits last 26 weeks from your initial claim date. Extensions might be available depending on the state's unemployment rate. The website won't show your end date clearly, but you can calculate it yourself: find your initial claim date and add 26 weeks. The system sends notice when you're getting close to exhausting benefits but sometimes these get lost. Best way is definitely to call and confirm. Use claimyr.com if you don't want to waste time on hold - we actually recommended it to people when I worked there because the phone lines are so backed up. Keep all your documents and screenshots. The system is old and glitchy, and sometimes info disappears.

Another tip - if you log into your account and go to "View and Maintain Account Information" then click on "Monetary and Issue Summary" it sometimes shows your benefit year dates there. Not always reliable but worth checking. Also your first payment voucher usually has your claim effective date on it, so you can count 26 weeks from there. The whole system is a mess but those are the few places that might actually show useful info without having to call.