I actually work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and deal with these situations regularly. The key distinction is between "totally disabled" and "partially disabled with restrictions." If you can perform any type of work - even with accommodations - you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. NYS Department of Labor will evaluate whether you're "able and available" for work within your limitations. Make sure to get a detailed functional capacity evaluation from your doctor that specifies what you CAN do, not just what you can't. When you file, be completely transparent about your restrictions and emphasize your willingness to work within those parameters. Keep detailed records of your job search efforts focusing on positions that match your capabilities.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience from last year. I was in almost the exact same situation - injured at work, went on short-term disability, then my employer couldn't accommodate my lifting restrictions when I was cleared to return with limitations. I successfully collected unemployment while having work restrictions. The key things that helped me: 1) I got a detailed letter from my doctor outlining exactly what I could and couldn't do (like "can lift up to 20 lbs, no repetitive bending, can stand/walk for 4 hours max"), 2) I documented every job application for positions that fit my restrictions, and 3) I was completely honest on my unemployment application about having limitations. NYS DOL did call me for a phone interview about 3 weeks after I filed, but once I explained I was actively seeking work within my medical restrictions, they approved my claim. The process took about 5 weeks total. Don't let anyone tell you this is "double dipping" - if you can work and are looking for work, you deserve benefits while you search for a job that accommodates your needs.

**FINAL UPDATE:** Finally got through after 47 minutes total. For anyone else stuck in this situation, I found that staying completely silent during the automated system rather than responding actually got me to a human faster. The rep I spoke with was actually really helpful once I finally reached them - they fixed an issue with my claim that had been pending for weeks. Just wish the process wasn't so painful!

I'm dealing with this same nightmare right now! Been calling for 3 days straight and either get disconnected after an hour+ wait or the system just hangs up on me. It's honestly shocking how broken this system is - like they're actively trying to prevent people from getting the help they need. Has anyone tried reaching out to their local representatives about these wait times? I'm wondering if there's any political pressure we can apply to get more staff hired or better systems implemented.

The quarterly reporting is the real pain honestly. You have to file even if you had zero wages that quarter. NYS Department of Labor will send you notices but don't rely on getting them - set your own calendar reminders for the due dates or you'll get hit with penalties.

One thing to keep in mind is that the UI tax rate can actually decrease over time if you have low turnover. New employers start at the standard rate, but after a few years of experience, your rate gets adjusted based on your "experience rating" - basically how many former employees filed for unemployment benefits. So if you're good at retaining employees, your costs can go down significantly. Also, make sure you understand the difference between employees and independent contractors for UI purposes - misclassifying can get you in trouble with NYS Department of Labor audits.

That's great news! Glad to hear they processed it without you having to call. For anyone else reading this in the future: results vary widely depending on DOL workload. Some people get their backpay quickly like the original poster, while others may need to follow up by phone if it takes longer than a week.

Congratulations on getting your backpay! This is such a helpful update for the community. Your timeline of 6 days is really encouraging - it shows that sometimes the system does work efficiently when you upload everything correctly. I've seen so many people in similar situations stress about whether they'll ever see those missed payments, so your success story will definitely give others hope. Thanks for taking the time to update us!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Got a Wisely card two days ago that I never requested and was really suspicious about it. After reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like this is a widespread issue from that March system glitch. I'm still nervous about activating it though - has anyone had any problems with the card once they started using it? Like weird charges or anything sketchy? I know it's supposedly legit but I'm always paranoid about financial stuff like this. Also, for those who got their direct deposit fixed afterward, how long did it take for the next payment to go back to your regular bank account?

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same situation about a month ago. I was also really skeptical when the Wisely card showed up out of nowhere, especially since my direct deposit had been working perfectly for weeks. After reading through this thread, it's clear that a lot of us were affected by that March system issue. I ended up calling NYSDOL (took forever to get through) and they confirmed it was legit - apparently my bank rejected a deposit due to some technical glitch on their end. The agent told me this happened to thousands of people around the same time. I activated the card, used it to get my missing payment, and they fixed my direct deposit for future payments. No issues with the card itself - it worked just like any other debit card. Just wanted to add another voice confirming this is a real thing that happened to a lot of people!