Just make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs taking early retirement. If your company offers you a retirement package and you take it, that's considered voluntary and you won't qualify for unemployment. But if they lay you off without offering retirement, you're good to file a claim.

Also keep in mind that if you do get laid off and file for unemployment, you'll need to have your separation paperwork ready. NYS Department of Labor will want documentation showing it was an involuntary layoff, not a resignation. Save any emails or notices about the layoffs your company sends out - that can help establish the involuntary nature of your separation if there are any questions about your eligibility.

If you're having trouble reaching NYS Department of Labor by phone to check on your claim status, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Really helped when I needed to clarify something about my separation reason during adjudication.

I went through something similar when I got fired for attendance issues due to my child's daycare problems. The key thing that helped my case was keeping detailed records of everything - dates of absences, reasons, any communication with my employer about the issues. NYS Department of Labor really does look at whether it was willful misconduct or circumstances beyond your control. Since you have those car repair receipts, definitely include those when you file. Also, if you ever communicated with your manager about the transportation issues beforehand (like emails or texts), gather those too. The more documentation you have showing it wasn't intentional, the better your chances. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation with my marketing consultancy in 2023. After 8 years of steady growth, I suddenly lost 3 major clients within a month and my income dropped by about 80%. I was terrified about applying for UI while still technically "running" my business. The best advice I can give you is to be 100% transparent with NYSDOL from the start. When I applied, I explained exactly what happened - how the business was still legally operating but generating almost no income, how I was actively job searching while trying to salvage what I could, and provided detailed financial records showing the dramatic revenue drop. What really helped my case was having quarterly tax payments that clearly showed the decline, and I made sure to track every single hour I spent on business activities vs. job search activities. I reported maybe 8-10 hours per week on average trying to keep the business alive while spending 25-30 hours job searching and interviewing. They did put me through additional review because of the self-employment situation, but I was eventually approved for partial benefits. It took about 5 weeks to get my first payment, but having that support allowed me to take the time to find a really good full-time position instead of just grabbing the first thing available. Your 9-year investment is worth fighting for, but don't let pride keep you from getting the support you've already paid into the system. Document everything and be honest - the worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised by the support available.

I'm facing a very similar situation with my freelance design business - been running it for 5 years and January completely destroyed my client base. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the S-Corp vs sole proprietor distinctions and the importance of detailed documentation. One thing I wanted to add that might help others in similar situations: when I spoke to an accountant about potentially restructuring my business, they mentioned that if you're considering converting from sole proprietor to S-Corp for future protection, now might actually be a good time to do it while income is low. Obviously that's a longer-term strategy and won't help with immediate UI eligibility, but it could set you up better for any future economic downturns. @Aisha Khan - your situation with the S-Corp structure and proper tax payments sounds like it should definitely qualify for benefits. The fact that you've been paying into the system for years means you've earned this support. Don't feel guilty about using a safety net you've been contributing to - that's exactly what it's there for. The advice about using Claimyr to get through to an actual person also sounds like it could save a lot of frustration. Has anyone tried their service recently? The regular phone lines have been absolutely impossible to get through on.

Look into Santander Consumer or Capital One Auto Finance - they sometimes work with non-traditional income sources. Also check if you qualify for any first-time buyer programs that might be more flexible.

Try looking at smaller, independent dealerships rather than big chain lots - they're often more willing to work with unique situations. I'd also suggest getting pre-approved through a credit union first before shopping. Navy Federal and SEFCU (if you're in the Capital Region) have been known to consider unemployment benefits. Having that pre-approval letter in hand gives you more negotiating power with dealers. Also, consider certified pre-owned vehicles instead of new ones - lower payments might make lenders more comfortable with your temporary income situation.

Don't let the complexity discourage you from applying! I was in a similar situation where I had worked at two different places within the year and wasn't sure if it would count. The online application at my.ny.gov actually walks you through entering all your employment history from the past 18 months, and their system automatically calculates whether you meet the requirements. You'll need your employer information, dates worked, and gross wages for each job. Since you have 8 months total of work history this year, you're likely in good shape as long as your combined earnings hit those thresholds that Melina mentioned.

Pedro, based on what you've described, you should definitely apply! With 6 months of work earlier this year plus your recent 2 months, you likely have enough work history to qualify. The NYS Department of Labor will look at your entire base period (typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) when determining eligibility. Since you were laid off due to company downsizing and didn't quit voluntarily, you should meet the separation requirements too. Make sure you have all your employment information handy - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and your gross wages from both jobs. The online application will guide you through everything and automatically calculate if you meet the monetary requirements.