pro tip: apply for everything even if u dont meet all requirements. worst they can do is say no and sometimes they actually call u back

Don't forget to check if you qualify for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) if your job loss was related to international trade/imports. It can extend benefits and provide retraining funds. Also look into your local One Stop Career Centers - they often have resources for resume help, interview prep, and sometimes emergency assistance while you're job searching. The 26 weeks goes by fast so definitely start exploring all options now!

yeah definitely document stuff but also make sure you understand what counts as good cause. unsafe work conditions, harassment, discrimination, significant pay cuts, major job duty changes - stuff like that. just being unhappy with your boss or coworkers usually doesn't qualify unfortunately

I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago. The hostile work environment piece is key - you'll want to show a pattern of behavior, not just isolated incidents. I kept a journal with dates, times, witnesses present, and exact quotes when possible. Also save any written communications that show the hostile behavior. When I filed, I made sure to be very specific about how the environment affected my ability to do my job and my health. The adjudication process was nerve-wracking but having that documentation really helped my case. One tip: if you have any performance reviews or emails showing you were doing good work before the hostile environment started, that can help show the situation wasn't related to your job performance.

Also make sure ur checking ur unemployment messages every day!! sometimes they send weird questionnaires u gotta answer right away or they stop ur payments!!!

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely don't file a new claim! I work part-time for a small business that has seasonal shutdowns, and I've been through this exact situation multiple times. The key is to stay on your current claim and just accurately report your work status each week. During the renovation weeks, you'll report zero work days and zero earnings, and you should receive your full weekly benefit amount. When you return to work after renovations, just start reporting your work days again normally. The system handles these temporary work interruptions really well as long as you don't try to start a new claim. Your supervisor probably means well but like others mentioned, most employers don't really understand the technical side of unemployment claims. Stick with your current claim and you'll be fine!

I had a really hard time getting through to NYS Department of Labor when I needed to speak to someone about my claim status last month. If anyone needs to actually talk to an agent about eligibility questions or any unemployment issues, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get connected. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak to someone directly about specific situations rather than guessing about eligibility rules.

This is such a difficult situation. While I agree with what others have said about the legal eligibility requirements, I wanted to mention that many immigrant worker centers and advocacy organizations in NYC specifically help with situations like this. Organizations like Make the Road NY, New York Immigration Coalition, and local mutual aid groups often have emergency assistance programs and know about resources that don't require documentation status verification. They can also provide guidance on worker rights and next steps. Your friend shouldn't feel alone in this - there are communities and organizations that understand these challenges and want to help.

Pro tip: make sure ur not copying and pasting the password. type it manually. sometimes hidden spaces get copied too

Had the exact same issue last week! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - tried my phone instead of laptop and it went through immediately. Also make sure you're using the correct URL (labor.ny.gov/signin) because there are some fake lookalike sites that will mess with your login attempts. If all else fails, definitely try that claimyr service people are mentioning - heard good things about it from others in this group.