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.

I went through this exact situation when I moved from NY to PA about 8 months ago. Here's what actually happened: You cannot transfer benefits between states - you'll need to file a completely new claim in PA once you establish residency there. The good news is that PA will use your NY work history to calculate your benefits, but the bad news is their weekly benefit amounts are typically lower than NY's. Make sure you do a few things before you move: 1) Report your address change to NY unemployment immediately through your online account, 2) Complete your final weekly certification in NY, and 3) Apply for PA benefits as soon as you're eligible (usually after establishing residency). There will likely be a gap in payments - mine was about 3 weeks. PA's system is slower than NY's (if you can believe that). Also, be prepared for PA to have different job search requirements than what you're used to in NY. One last tip - if you're having trouble reaching NY unemployment by phone to properly close out your claim, I had success using a callback service that eliminated the endless hold times. It's worth it to make sure everything is handled correctly to avoid any fraud issues later.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - just started the process of moving from NY to PA while on unemployment. From what I've researched and heard from others here, you definitely can't transfer benefits directly between states. Each state has its own system and rules. What I'm planning to do: 1) Call NY unemployment ASAP to report my move (using that claimyr service everyone's mentioning since I can't get through either), 2) File for PA benefits as soon as I establish residency there, and 3) prepare financially for a gap in payments. One thing I learned from reading through these comments - make sure you're crystal clear about your availability for work when talking to NY unemployment. If you can still commute back to NY for jobs, there might be interstate benefit options, but if you're moving too far into PA, you'll need to start fresh with their system. The IP address flagging thing someone mentioned is scary - definitely don't want to get accused of fraud on top of everything else. Going to make sure I handle the transition properly even if it means a few weeks without income. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, this thread has been incredibly helpful!

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! I had no idea it was entirely employer-funded through their unemployment taxes. I was actually worried I hadn't been paying enough into the system somehow. It's good to know that when I file my claim with NYS Department of Labor, I'm accessing benefits that my previous employers have already paid for through their tax contributions. Makes the whole process feel more legitimate and less like I'm asking for a handout.

This is really helpful information! I'm in a similar situation and was also confused about the funding. One thing I'm still wondering about - does the amount of benefits I can receive depend on how much my employer paid in taxes, or is it based on my earnings history? I want to make sure I understand how the benefit calculation works with the NYS Department of Labor system.