I'm 63 and actually just went through this process successfully about 3 months ago when my company downsized. Can definitely confirm what everyone else is saying - social security retirement benefits absolutely do NOT affect your unemployment benefits in New York! The NYS Department of Labor treats them as completely separate income sources. When I filed my initial claim, there wasn't even a question about social security income on the application. The weekly certifications never ask about it either because it's not considered "wages" that would reduce your benefits. The hardest part for me was actually getting through to speak with someone at NYS Department of Labor to confirm this initially - their phone lines are constantly busy. But once I did connect with a representative, they were very clear that social security retirement is totally separate from unemployment insurance. Just make sure you're prepared to document your job search activities thoroughly and stay committed to finding new employment. At our age, we bring valuable experience to the table, so don't get discouraged! File that claim with confidence - you're entitled to both benefits simultaneously.

I'm 65 and just went through this exact situation 4 months ago when my construction company laid off several senior workers. Everyone here is absolutely correct - your social security retirement benefits will NOT affect your unemployment benefits in New York. The NYS Department of Labor confirmed this to me directly when I had questions about my claim. They're treated as completely separate programs. However, I want to emphasize something that helped me tremendously: when you file your weekly certifications, be very thorough in documenting your work search activities. I kept a detailed spreadsheet with every job I applied to, including the date, company name, position, and method of application. I also included networking activities like reaching out to former colleagues and attending virtual job fairs. The NYS Department of Labor never actually asked to see my documentation, but having it organized gave me confidence during the certification process. One practical tip - I found that many employers actually value the reliability and experience that comes with workers our age, especially in industries facing labor shortages. Don't let age discourage you from applying broadly. You've got 15 years of warehouse experience which is incredibly valuable right now. File that claim with confidence!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and can definitely confirm that unemployment benefits count as income for the marketplace. What I found most helpful was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything - my weekly UI amount from NYS Department of Labor ($340/week in my case), how many weeks I'd already collected, and a realistic estimate of how many more weeks I might need benefits. I also included a column for any odd jobs or freelance work I picked up while unemployed. The NY State of Health application process was actually pretty user-friendly once I had all my numbers organized. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to save screenshots of your benefit payment history from your NYS DOL online account - it came in handy when I needed to verify my income information later in the process. Also, don't forget that you can always call the marketplace customer service if you get stuck on any part of the application. They were really helpful when I had questions about how to report income that might change mid-year.

I'm in the exact same situation right now - just started collecting unemployment from NYS Department of Labor about 3 weeks ago and need to get health insurance coverage. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea unemployment counted as income for marketplace purposes, so I'm really glad I found this thread before submitting my application. One question I have is about timing - since I just started collecting benefits, should I estimate based on the full year or just from when my benefits started? I was working the first 9 months of the year at my previous job, so I'm not sure how to handle that mixed income situation when filling out the NY State of Health application.

One more thing - if your employer is disputing the claim, you can request an expedited hearing by calling the hearings division directly. That number is separate from the main NYS Department of Labor line and sometimes you can get through easier. If there's a legitimate dispute, a hearing might actually be faster than waiting for adjudication to complete.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - 5 weeks in adjudication with zero communication from NYS DOL. What's really frustrating is that they don't even tell you what specific issue triggered the review. I've tried the callback system but it never actually calls back. Has anyone had success contacting their local state assembly member's office? I heard they sometimes have staff who can reach out to the department on your behalf when constituents are facing hardship due to delays.

I'm in almost the exact same situation with my freelance web development business - no income since late December and really struggling to make ends meet. This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding the process. Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key is being able to prove you're "totally unemployed" rather than just having slow business. I've been keeping my business technically open hoping things would turn around, but I think it's time to face reality and file. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed - has anyone dealt with the situation where you have outstanding invoices from before your income stopped? I have about $2,000 in unpaid invoices from November/December clients. If those payments eventually come through while I'm collecting unemployment, how does that affect the claim? Do I need to report it as income even though it's for work performed before I became unemployed? I want to make sure I handle this correctly from the start. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know I'm not alone in this situation.

I've been following this thread closely as someone who just went through this process successfully. My freelance photography business dried up in October and I filed for unemployment in November. After about 8 weeks, my claim was approved and I've been receiving benefits since January. A few things that helped me: 1) I kept detailed records of my last client interactions and payments, 2) I completely stopped all business activities including social media marketing and networking, and 3) I started actively applying for part-time jobs to show genuine job search efforts. Regarding outstanding invoices - yes, you need to report any payments received during your benefit weeks even if the work was done before filing. I had one late payment come through in December and reported it on my weekly certification. It reduced that week's benefit but didn't affect my overall eligibility. The adjudication process was stressful but the investigator was actually quite understanding once I explained my situation clearly. My advice is don't wait too long to file if you're genuinely unemployed - the sooner you start the process, the sooner you can get financial relief while you figure out your next steps.

The system is so messed up. I reported my return to work properly and they STILL sent me a questionnaire 3 weeks later asking why I stopped filing claims. Like, hello, I told you I went back to work! Had to call and explain everything again. Just keep records of what you report in case they question it later.

Just went through this exact situation last month! You definitely want to file that final weekly claim for the week you started working. When you're filling it out, there should be a question about returning to work - make sure to put your exact start date (Tuesday in your case). The system will automatically calculate any partial benefits you might be owed for the days before you started. After you submit that claim with your return-to-work date, your unemployment claim will be closed and you won't need to file anymore. Don't worry, you're doing the right thing by reporting it properly!