The whole unemployment system is so messed up. They make it impossible to reach anyone and then wonder why people are frustrated. At least if you do get fired for performance you have a decent shot at getting benefits approved.

I went through something similar last year - got fired for not meeting sales quotas despite really trying my best. NYS Department of Labor approved my benefits because they determined it wasn't misconduct, just a poor fit for the role. The key thing is to document everything now while you're still employed - save any emails about performance expectations, feedback from your supervisor, evidence that you're making efforts to improve, etc. This documentation can be really helpful if your employer contests your claim later. Also, even if the worst happens, remember that getting fired for performance issues is different from getting fired for breaking rules or policy violations. You've got a good chance of qualifying for benefits.

I'm in literally the exact same situation! I just checked my transcript after seeing this post and I have the same 291 code with a negative amount from last month. I've been so confused about what it meant but reading everyone's experiences here is giving me hope that it's actually a refund coming. The whole unemployment tax situation has been such a mess - I paid extra taxes when I filed in early 2021 before they changed the rules. It's crazy that they're finally fixing this automatically instead of making us jump through more hoops. Definitely going to be checking my bank account daily now! Thanks for posting this, it's so helpful to hear from others going through the same thing.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just saw the 291 code with a negative amount on my transcript from a few weeks ago and had no clue what it meant until I found this thread. It's such a relief to see so many people confirming they actually received their refunds - I was worried it was some kind of mistake or that I'd have to jump through more hoops to get the money. The whole unemployment tax situation has been such a headache. I filed early in 2021 and paid taxes on all my unemployment benefits, then months later they changed the rules. At least they're fixing it automatically instead of making us amend our returns. Based on what everyone's saying here, sounds like I should expect the deposit in the next few weeks. Finally some good news after dealing with all the NY unemployment chaos! Thanks for posting this question - it's so helpful to hear from others in the same boat.

Just to add some clarity on what happens at the BYE date: 1. Your benefit rate stays exactly the same until your BYE date 2. You can collect all remaining effective days at that same rate 3. After your BYE date, you must file a new claim even if you had days remaining 4. Your new claim will have a new benefit calculation based on your base period wages 5. There will typically be a 2-3 week gap between claims while your new application processes The NY DOL should send you a notification about 2-3 weeks before your BYE date reminding you to file a new claim if you're still unemployed.

I went through this exact situation last year! My BYE was in March 2024 and I had 8 effective days left. You'll definitely get your full weekly benefit rate for all remaining days - they don't reduce it at all. Just make sure you're prepared for the processing time on your new claim. I started my new application about a week before my BYE date and it still took almost 3 weeks to get approved. The hardest part was gathering all the wage documentation from different employers during my base period. Start collecting those W-2s and pay stubs now so you're not scrambling later!

just to add - make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. there's usually a waiting period before benefits start and you want to get that clock ticking. the UI number is just the beginning of the process.

I went through this same process about 6 months ago and can confirm what others have said - the UI number gets assigned automatically when you submit your initial claim on my.ny.gov. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have all your employment history for the past 18 months ready, including exact dates and employer addresses. The system will ask for detailed info about your previous jobs. Also, once you get your UI number, you'll need to certify for benefits every week - don't forget to do this or you could lose your benefits! The certification usually opens up on Sunday for the previous week.

My brother had this exact same issue last month and it turned out he accidentally answered one of the certification questions wrong. They never tell you which one! He had to call and straighten it out. Took forever to get through though. BTW my payment is showing up normal this week so maybe it's not affecting everyone?

Just wanted to follow up for anyone still checking this thread - I experienced the same delay last week and it resolved exactly as others described. My payment showed up Wednesday morning instead of the usual Tuesday. The key thing I learned is to check the desktop version of the NY.gov unemployment portal rather than just the mobile app, since system notifications are more visible there. Also, if this happens again in the future, don't panic immediately - give it 48 hours during system maintenance periods before calling. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here, it really helped calm my nerves!