Yes, attending job fairs absolutely counts as a work search activity! Other qualifying activities include: • Submitting job applications/resumes • Having job interviews • Registering with employment agencies • Meeting with career counselors • Taking civil service exams • Networking events specifically for job search • Creating profiles on job boards like Indeed/LinkedIn • Taking workshops through NY Career Centers Just make sure you document everything with dates, names of events/companies, and any contacts you made.

Just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation last year - make sure to save confirmation numbers for EVERYTHING. When you file your initial claim, save that confirmation number. When you certify weekly, screenshot the confirmation page. When you do work search activities, keep records with dates and details. I had a friend who had issues with their claim and the DOL asked for proof of when they certified for certain weeks. Having those confirmation numbers saved her from weeks of back-and-forth trying to resolve the issue. The system can be glitchy sometimes and having your own records is a lifesaver. Also, if you're tech-savvy, consider setting up calendar reminders for your weekly certifications. Missing even one week can cause delays in your payments that are really hard to fix later.

I'm in a similar situation right now - got a potential job offer coming up but still have about $5,800 left on my claim. Reading through everyone's responses here has been really helpful! It sounds like the key takeaway is that unemployment benefits work on a benefit year basis, not like a personal savings account. I had no idea that unused benefits just expire when your benefit year ends - that definitely changes how I'm thinking about this decision. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through the exact same situation. It's reassuring to know that taking a good job opportunity is always the smarter long-term choice, even if it means leaving some benefits unused.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm also dealing with unemployment benefits for the first time and had the same misconception that unused benefits would just sit there waiting for me to use them later. Reading everyone's explanations about how the benefit year system works has really cleared things up. It's definitely a relief to know that if you become unemployed again within the same benefit year, you can still access your remaining balance - I had no idea about that detail. For anyone else who's new to this like me, it seems like the main points are: 1) benefits are calculated fresh for each new claim based on recent work history, 2) unused benefits expire when your benefit year ends (52 weeks from initial filing), but 3) you can return to the same claim if you become unemployed again within that same benefit year. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decode the official government websites!

Being fired for attendance doesn't automatically disqualify you but it does make things more complicated. During the adjudication process, NYS Department of Labor will contact both you and your employer to get the full story. Your former employer will probably argue it was misconduct, so you need to be prepared to explain your side clearly. Document everything and be ready to provide medical records if health was a factor.

I'm new to this whole unemployment process but wanted to share what I learned from a friend who works in HR. She told me that NYS Department of Labor looks at whether your attendance issues were "willful" or due to circumstances beyond your control. If you have medical documentation showing you were genuinely ill, that's definitely not willful misconduct. Also, make sure to file your claim as soon as possible - there are time limits and you don't want to miss out on benefits you might be entitled to. The adjudication process can take a few weeks, but it's worth going through if you have legitimate reasons for your absences.

I went through this exact same nightmare for almost a month! What finally worked for me was using a VPN to get a different IP address (the free ProtonVPN worked fine) and then trying at around 2-3 AM when the system has less traffic. Also make sure you're using a completely clean browser session - I used Edge in InPrivate mode with no extensions. The key thing that saved me was having absolutely everything prepared beforehand - all employment dates, addresses for the last 18 months, bank info, etc. written down so I could fill it out super fast without any pauses. The moment you hesitate or navigate away, their ancient system seems to time out. If the website keeps failing even after trying different approaches, honestly just bite the bullet and use one of those callback services like Claimyr that people mentioned. I was skeptical too but after weeks of frustration it got me through to an actual person who fixed my account in 10 minutes. Sometimes the website issues are actually backend problems that only an agent can resolve. Don't give up - their system is intentionally frustrating but you can beat it with the right strategy!

I've been battling this exact same issue for over a month now! The system crashes every single time right at the identity verification step. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, using my phone, even went to the library to try their computers. Nothing works. What's really frustrating is that I can see other people are getting through somehow, but the system seems specifically designed to fail. I've called the hotline probably 50 times and either get disconnected after hours of waiting or get that automated message saying they're too busy to take calls. At this point I'm seriously considering some of the solutions people mentioned here like Claimyr or contacting my state rep's office. This is ridiculous - I paid into this system for years and now when I actually need it, I can't even file a basic claim. The stress of being unemployed is bad enough without having to fight a broken website every day. Has anyone had luck with the mobile site approach someone mentioned? Willing to try anything at this point because I'm running out of savings fast.

One thing to remember is that unemployment insurance is meant to be insurance - you pay premiums (taxes) and sometimes you have claims against the policy. It's the cost of doing business with employees. Focus on good hiring practices and clear documentation rather than worrying too much about one legitimate claim.

As someone who's been through this recently, I can confirm what others are saying about responding to NYS Department of Labor forms promptly. Even though it feels intimidating as a first-time employer dealing with this, the process is pretty straightforward. Just be honest about the circumstances - if it was truly a layoff due to business conditions, that's exactly what unemployment insurance is designed to cover. Your tax rate might increase slightly over time, but it's gradual and based on your overall experience rating, not just one claim. The key is staying on top of any correspondence from NYS Department of Labor and keeping good records of employment decisions going forward.