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Been there myself with a knee injury while unemployed. Key things: 1) Report the disability income on your weekly claims, 2) Make sure your job search focuses on positions you can actually do with your restrictions, 3) Keep all medical documentation, 4) Be honest when certifying for benefits. NYS Department of Labor processed mine without issues because I was upfront about everything from the start.
This is a great question and you're smart to ask before potentially creating issues. I work in HR and deal with these situations regularly. The key distinction is between being "totally disabled" versus having work restrictions. Since you can perform desk work and light duty, you're not totally disabled from all work. You absolutely must report your disability payments when filing weekly claims - NYS Department of Labor will likely reduce your unemployment benefits by the amount of disability income you receive. Keep detailed records of your job search efforts focusing specifically on positions that accommodate your restrictions (administrative, customer service, data entry, etc.). Your doctor's note about light duty work will be important documentation. Many people successfully navigate this situation, but transparency with NYSDOL from the start is crucial to avoid overpayment issues down the road.
This is really helpful advice, thank you! I've been worried about making a mistake that could cost me my benefits. Quick question - when you say NYS Department of Labor will "likely reduce" unemployment benefits by the disability amount, does that mean it's dollar-for-dollar? Like if I get $300/week in disability and $400/week in unemployment, would I only get $100 from unemployment? I want to make sure I understand how this works before I report everything.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to check on your claim status, I had luck using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get connected to an actual agent without sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim was stuck in processing.
Interesting, I've never heard of that. Is it legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything if it means I can actually talk to someone.
Just went through this myself last month. No waiting week but took exactly 18 days from filing to first payment hitting my account. Make sure you have direct deposit set up or it takes even longer with the debit card they mail out.
Good tip about direct deposit! I'll double check that's set up correctly in my account.
18 days seems pretty typical from what I've seen. @ac0944eb9a44 since you're stressed about rent timing, you might want to contact your landlord now to give them a heads up about the delay. Most are understanding about unemployment situations if you communicate early.
unpopular opinion but sometimes its better to stick it out while looking for a new job. unemployment is such a headache rn
ez to say when ur not dealing with a toxic workplace 🤮
Just went through this exact situation! I quit due to hostile work environment and got approved. Key things that helped me: 1) I documented EVERYTHING - screenshots of nasty emails, wrote down verbal incidents with dates/times, 2) I filed immediately after quitting while everything was fresh, 3) When I got to speak with an agent (used that claimyr service mentioned above - totally worth it), I was very clear and factual about why I had "good cause" to quit. Don't give up if they initially deny you - the appeal process exists for a reason. Your mental health matters and NY does recognize constructive discharge situations. You got this! 💪
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SCREW SMALL BUSINESSES! They make it impossible to get straight answers about your tax rates and then hit you with massive increases. We had THREE claims last year and our rate went up 40%!
That does sound really high. Maybe there were other factors involved?
Wait, so if I get laid off and file for unemployment, my former employer gets punished financially? That makes me feel kind of bad about filing... should I not apply for benefits?
Don't feel bad at all! This is exactly what the system is for. Employers pay into unemployment insurance specifically to cover situations like layoffs. You earned those benefits through your work, and your employer was paying for this coverage all along. File your claim.
@Kristian Bishop is absolutely right! As someone who works in HR, I can tell you that unemployment insurance is part of the cost of doing business. Companies budget for these taxes just like they budget for workers comp' or other insurance. The system exists specifically to help people like you during layoffs through no fault of your own. Please don t'let concern for your former employer stop you from getting the benefits you re'entitled to.
CosmicCruiser
Update: I was able to get my 2019 denial letter! For anyone who might need this in the future, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to an agent (took about 15 mins instead of hours of waiting). The agent was able to see my 2019 claim in their system and emailed me the determination letter within a few hours. My mortgage broker accepted it and we're moving forward. Thanks everyone for your help!
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StarStrider
•That's awesome! Congrats on getting it sorted out and moving forward with your mortgage. Good to know Claimyr actually worked - I might keep that in mind if I ever need to deal with NY unemployment again. Thanks for updating us with what worked!
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QuantumQuasar
Great to see this got resolved! For future reference for anyone else in a similar situation, it's also worth noting that some mortgage lenders will accept alternative documentation if you explain the situation. I had a client who couldn't get their old unemployment records in time, so we provided a signed affidavit explaining the denial along with bank statements from that period showing no unemployment deposits. The underwriter accepted it after some back and forth. Obviously getting the official letter is always best, but don't panic if you hit roadblocks - there might be other options your loan officer can explore.
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