Have you considered talking to your manager first about the issues? Sometimes they don't realize how their actions are affecting employees. Plus if you document that conversation and they refuse to address the problems, that could help your case if you do decide to quit and file for unemployment.

I went through something similar about 6 months ago. The key thing is that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether you had "good cause" to quit - and from what you're describing (major hour cuts, constant schedule changes without notice, hostile supervisor) you might actually have a case. The reduction from 35 to 15 hours alone could be considered constructive dismissal if it's a significant change from your original job terms. Start documenting everything NOW - take screenshots of your schedule, write down specific incidents with dates/times, and if possible get any communications in writing. When you apply, you'll need to clearly explain that you had no choice but to quit due to these unreasonable working conditions. Don't just say you quit because of a "toxic environment" - be specific about how the conditions made it impossible for you to continue working there.

ugh the whole unemployment system is such a nightmare, why can't they just make it easier to fix simple mistakes without having to jump through hoops

I went through something similar when I first filed my claim. Don't panic - mistakes happen and the system is designed to handle corrections. Here's what worked for me: first, document exactly what information you got wrong and what the correct details should be. Then try the secure messaging system through my.ny.gov first - it's often faster than calling. If you don't get a response within a week, then try calling early in the morning (like 8 AM) when the phone lines are less busy. Whatever you do, don't file a second claim - that will definitely cause more problems than it solves. The key is being honest and proactive about the corrections.

Ugh, same exact thing happening to me! Been trying since Sunday and the site just keeps crashing or giving me that "request cannot be processed" error. Really stressing me out because I have bills due this week too. The fact that this happens EVERY month is just unacceptable - how are we supposed to survive when their ancient system can't handle basic traffic? Going to try some of the suggestions here like using Firefox and trying at weird hours. If that doesn't work I might have to look into that claimyr service people are mentioning. This whole situation is just ridiculous.

This is absolutely maddening! I've been dealing with the same certification nightmare since Sunday. Tried every browser, cleared cache, even borrowed my friend's computer thinking it was my device. Nothing works! The site either times out completely or gives me that useless "technical difficulties" message. I'm supposed to get my payment today and now I'm panicking about making rent. Called 47 times yesterday and either got busy signals or sat on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected. How is this even legal? We depend on these benefits to survive and their system fails us every single week. I'm honestly at my breaking point with NYSDOL's incompetence. Going to try the late night approach tonight but if that doesn't work I might have to look into some of these third-party services people are mentioning just to talk to an actual human being.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A NIGHTMARE! I've been filing these stupid quarterly reports for 3 years and they STILL send me penalty notices for no reason. Half the time their own website doesn't work properly during filing season. And don't get me started on trying to reach anyone by phone - it's like they don't want employers to actually comply with the law!

Also worth noting that if you have employees working in multiple states, you'll need to file separate quarterly reports for each state. New York only covers wages paid to employees working in NY. Make sure you're calculating the taxable wage base correctly too - for 2025, it's the first $12,300 of each employee's annual wages. The tax rate varies depending on your experience rating, but new employers typically start around 4.1%. Keep detailed payroll records because NYS Department of Labor can audit up to 4 years back.

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Been trying to get through for 3 weeks about a payment issue and it's beyond frustrating. Reading through all these suggestions is really helpful though. I think I'm going to try the multi-pronged approach - contact my state rep tomorrow morning, then try calling during those mid-morning hours that Aidan suggested, and if that doesn't work I'll look into the Claimyr service as a last resort. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to talk to someone about our own benefits, but at least there are some actual solutions here instead of just "keep calling." Thanks everyone for sharing what actually worked!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just wanted to add one more option that helped me get some movement on my case - I filed a complaint with the NY Department of Labor's Office of Special Investigations through their website. It's under the "Report Fraud or Get Help" section. They're supposed to respond within 10 business days for payment issues. I submitted mine 3 days ago so still waiting to see if it works, but figured it's worth mentioning as another free option to try alongside the state rep contact and early morning calling strategies. The form asks for your claim details and specific issue, so have all your info ready. Really hoping one of these methods works for all of us dealing with this mess!