Getting through to NYS Department of Labor on the phone to ask questions about your benefit amount can be really frustrating with their call volume. I was stuck trying to reach them for days until I found Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get connected to actual agents. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered about my weekly benefit calculation.

Just wanted to share my experience - I was making around $48k at a retail management job and my weekly benefit came out to $368. The process took about 3 weeks from filing to getting my first payment, but once it started it's been pretty consistent. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit right away instead of waiting for the debit card - payments hit my account faster that way. Also make sure you certify for benefits every week on time, even if there are technical issues with the website. You can always call to certify if the online system is down.

I went through this exact same situation last year! You absolutely need to report that you're working - select "yes" when it asks if you returned to work, then it will prompt you to enter your hours and gross earnings for that week. The system is actually set up to handle partial unemployment situations like yours. As long as you're under 30 hours and your earnings don't exceed the threshold (your weekly benefit rate + $504), you'll still get reduced benefits. Don't stress about it cutting off your claim completely - that only happens if you're working full-time or earning too much. Just be honest about your hours and pay, and you should be fine!

I'm in a really similar situation right now! Just started a new job last week and they have me doing paid training at about 20 hours per week. I was terrified about how to handle the certification too, but after reading everyone's advice here I feel much better. It sounds like as long as we're honest about the hours and earnings, we should still get partial benefits since we're under that 30-hour threshold. The day-based calculation system seems really confusing though - I had no idea it worked that way! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread has been super helpful for understanding how to navigate this whole process without messing up our claims.

The whole system is designed to screw people over! I ran out of benefits in week 23 and had to survive on food stamps until my year ended. Meanwhile billionaires get tax breaks. It's absolutely ridiculous that they can't extend benefits when people need them most.

I'm in a similar situation - about to hit my balance limit with several weeks left on my benefit year. One thing that might help is to start preparing now for when your benefits end. Look into local food banks, utility assistance programs, and see if you qualify for SNAP benefits to bridge the gap. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're actively job searching and documenting it since you'll need recent work history to qualify for a new claim when your benefit year ends. The timing really is unfortunate, but planning ahead can make the transition less stressful.

I was in almost the exact same boat last year! I collect SSDI and was working part-time when my employer had to let me go due to budget cuts. The good news is you absolutely can collect both - I've been doing it successfully. Here's what I learned: When you file your initial claim with NYS Department of Labor, be upfront about your disability and emphasize that you were successfully working part-time, which proves your work capacity. They'll want to see that you can perform some type of work within your limitations. Make sure to report your Social Security income on your weekly claims - it won't reduce your UI benefits dollar-for-dollar, but they need to know about it. The trickiest part was the work search requirement - I had to find jobs that matched my restrictions, but my WIPA counselor helped me understand what types of positions to look for. The whole process took about 4 weeks for approval, but it was worth it. Don't let anyone tell you that being on disability automatically disqualifies you - as long as you can work within your limitations, you're eligible!

I'm currently in this exact situation and have been researching it extensively. One thing I want to add that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of understanding the "work test" that NYS Department of Labor uses for people with disabilities. They don't just look at whether you can work - they evaluate whether you can work in your "customary occupation" or other suitable work given your training and experience. Since you were successfully doing a 20-hour part-time job, that's strong evidence of your work capacity. I'd recommend gathering documentation from your previous employer about your job duties and any accommodations they provided - this can help speed up the adjudication process. Also, when you do your work searches, focus on positions similar to what you were doing before, as these will be considered "suitable work" for your situation. The key is showing consistency between your past work capability and your current job search efforts.

just file asap and see what you get! took me 3 weeks to get my first payment but it was worth the wait. make sure you do your weekly claims every sunday

One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to report any severance pay you received when you file - that can delay when your benefits start. Also, if you're planning to do any freelance or part-time work while collecting, you need to report those earnings each week. They'll reduce your benefit amount dollar-for-dollar after the first $143 you earn in a week. The whole process can be confusing but definitely file sooner rather than later since there's usually a waiting period.