Has anyone tried using the chat function on the website? I've had better luck with that than calling (tho it still sucks). maybe you can get an answer about EB that way

I'm in almost the exact same situation - exhausted my 26 weeks last month and have been wondering the same thing. Reading through all these responses, it's pretty clear that continuing to certify is the way to go. Even if there's only a small chance of EB being approved, the downside of not certifying seems way worse than taking 5 minutes each week to stay in the system. The job market really is brutal right now. I've been applying everywhere and getting nothing back. It's so frustrating when you're doing everything right but the opportunities just aren't there. At least if we keep certifying and documenting our job searches, we'll be ready if any extensions do get approved. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been super helpful in making the decision to keep going with the weekly certifications!

Just keep in mind you still have to do job searches even with partial unemployment. Some people think since they have a job they don't need to look for other work but NYS Department of Labor still requires it unless you're on standby status.

@Mia Green I was in almost the exact same situation last month! Restaurant hours got slashed due to slow business and I was panicking about rent. Filed for partial unemployment through my.ny.gov and it was honestly pretty straightforward. The weekly certification is key - just be super honest about every dollar you earn that week. NYS calculates it automatically and you'll usually get a partial payment that helps bridge the gap. Definitely worth applying since involuntary hour reduction totally qualifies you. Don't stress about "getting in trouble" - you're doing exactly what the system is designed for!

You can also try messaging them through the online portal but don't expect a quick response. I sent a message 3 weeks ago and still haven't heard back. The whole system is just overwhelmed and understaffed.

Make sure you're checking your claim status regularly online too. Sometimes they'll request documents or information and if you miss it, your claim gets delayed even more. The NYS Department of Labor website isn't the greatest but it's usually faster than trying to reach someone by phone.

The unemployment system is so rigged against workers it's ridiculous. They expect you to have perfect attendance even when life happens. My friend got denied for missing work when her kid was in the hospital. HOSPITAL! But somehow that's not a good enough reason according to NYS Department of Labor. You almost need a lawyer for these appeals.

Quick question - did you check if your company has a progressive discipline policy? Like written warning first, then suspension, then termination? If they skipped steps that could help your case too

The whole tax thing with unemployment is such a mess. They should just automatically withhold like 15% and let people opt out if they want, not the other way around. Too many people get screwed at tax time because they didn't realize unemployment is taxable income.

Just want to add that if you do decide to have taxes withheld, the 10% federal withholding might not be enough depending on your total income for the year. If you had a higher-paying job before unemployment or have other income sources, you might want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties. You can calculate what you might owe using the IRS withholding calculator on their website. Also worth noting that if you're collecting unemployment for most of the year, you'll probably want to file your taxes as early as possible since unemployment 1099-G forms sometimes have errors that need to be corrected.