I went through this same process about a year ago and the waiting period is absolutely brutal - I totally feel for you! In my experience, it took about 22 days to receive the written decision, and my online account didn't update until about a week after I got the physical letter in the mail. The fact that you're only at 10 days means you're still very much in the normal timeframe. One thing I wish someone had told me is that the judges often take longer on cases they're being more thorough with, which can actually be a good sign. When I did win my appeal, they backdated everything to my original filing date and I got a substantial lump sum for all the weeks I'd missed. Also, make sure you keep filing your weekly certifications even while waiting - I almost forgot to do this and it would have cost me those weeks if I hadn't caught it in time. The uncertainty is the worst part, but hang in there - most people I know who felt their hearing went "okay" ended up with favorable decisions!

I totally understand the stress you're going through! I had my appeal hearing about 6 months ago and the waiting period was honestly one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of the whole process. In my case, it took exactly 3 weeks to get the decision letter, and my my.ny.gov account updated about 4 days after I received the physical mail. The fact that you felt the hearing went "okay" is actually really encouraging - the administrative law judges are trained to maintain a completely neutral demeanor throughout the process, so don't read anything negative into their lack of reaction. When I won my appeal, they automatically restored my claim and I received full back pay calculated from my original filing date, which was such a relief after all that waiting. One tip that really helped me stay sane: I started checking my account only on Mondays instead of obsessively checking every day. Also make sure you're still doing your weekly certifications while waiting - I almost forgot about this but it's crucial because if you win, those weeks will count toward your benefit total. At 10 days, you're still well within the normal timeframe, so try to hang in there for at least another week or two before getting too worried!

I'm currently in Europe and just went through this exact process last week! Here's what worked for me after trying multiple approaches: **What I tried first (didn't work):** - Direct login from abroad - immediately blocked - Mobile data vs WiFi - no difference, still blocked **What actually worked:** Used NordVPN with these specific steps: 1. Downloaded NordVPN app (they have a 30-day trial) 2. Connected to a server in New York specifically 3. Cleared all browser cookies and used incognito mode 4. Went to ny.gov unemployment portal 5. Logged in normally and downloaded 1099-G instantly **Important tips:** - Don't just pick any US server - NY servers seem to work best for NY state sites - Make sure to completely close/reopen your browser after connecting to VPN - Have your login credentials ready because some sites log you out faster when detecting "new" locations The whole process took me about 15 minutes once I had the VPN set up. Way faster than waiting weeks for email responses. Just remember to disconnect the VPN when you're done to avoid any issues with other sites/banking as others mentioned. Hope this helps and you get your documents sorted quickly!

I'm actually a tax preparer and deal with this issue frequently during tax season. Here are the most reliable methods I've seen work for clients abroad: **Fastest option: VPN + Portal Access** - Use ExpressVPN or NordVPN (both have money-back guarantees) - Connect to a New York server specifically - Clear cookies, use incognito mode - Should get immediate access to download your 1099-G **If VPN doesn't work: Third-party callback service** - Claimyr has been consistently successful for my clients - Usually connects within 30 minutes vs hours of trying yourself - Rep can email 1099-G directly after verification **Backup plan: IRS Form 4868** - Automatic 6-month extension to file (not pay) - Gives you time to get documents through slower channels - No penalty if you don't owe additional taxes **Pro tip:** If you use a VPN, test it first on a simple NY.gov page before trying to log into your unemployment account. Some VPN servers work better than others for government sites. From a tax perspective, you absolutely need that 1099-G to file correctly, so don't skip it. The unemployment income is definitely taxable and needs to be reported accurately.

Check your email too sometimes they send updates there instead of the website messages. Also call your local career center they might have more info about appeal timelines in your area.

I feel for you - the waiting is brutal when you're running low on funds. One thing that helped me was calling the Appeals Bureau directly at (518) 402-0205 rather than the main unemployment line. They're usually less busy and can at least confirm they received your appeal and give you a rough timeline. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're continuing to certify for benefits each week even while your appeal is pending - if you win, you'll get backpay for those weeks. Hang in there, 6 weeks is still within the normal timeframe even though it feels like forever.

I'm also a teacher in NY and went through this exact situation when I first started teaching. The reasonable assurance rule is definitely frustrating, but there's one scenario that might apply to some teachers - if you're on a temporary or substitute contract rather than a permanent position. I had a friend who was able to collect unemployment between her long-term sub positions because she didn't have that "reasonable assurance" of returning to the same job. Also, if you're looking for summer income, many districts hire teachers for summer programs, ESY (Extended School Year), or summer school positions. The pay isn't great but it's something. Some teachers also do test prep tutoring or work at educational summer camps. It's worth checking with your union rep too - they usually have good information about what options are available in your specific district.

I'm a former NYS Department of Labor employee and can confirm what others have said about the reasonable assurance rule. It's codified in NY Labor Law Section 590.11 and is pretty strictly enforced for school employees. The key factor is whether you have a contract or written agreement to return to work in the fall. Even if your salary is spread over 12 months instead of 10, you're still considered to have reasonable assurance. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're a probationary teacher and there's genuine uncertainty about your job security for the next year, that could potentially affect your eligibility. But you'd need documentation showing the uncertainty isn't just routine evaluation but actual doubt about contract renewal. The burden of proof would be on you to show the assurance isn't "reasonable." For most tenured or continuing contract teachers though, summer unemployment just isn't going to happen under current NY law.

Just want to add - make sure you have all your pay stubs from that part-time work before you try to file. NYS Department of Labor will verify everything anyway but having the documentation ready makes the process smoother. Good luck!

I went through something similar a few years back. The key thing to understand is that each time you work and earn wages, it can potentially create a new "benefit year" for unemployment purposes. So even though you missed the deadline for your 2023 job loss, if you had any legitimate employment in 2024 (sounds like you did with that part-time summer work), you might be able to establish a new claim. The tricky part is meeting the minimum wage requirements - you'll need to calculate if those part-time earnings hit the thresholds others mentioned. I'd recommend trying to file online first through the NYS DOL website, as it will tell you pretty quickly if you have sufficient wage credits. Don't give up hope yet!