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Just wanted to update everyone - I followed the advice here and successfully closed my NY unemployment claim! The "Request to Close Claim" option was exactly where you all said it would be. They sent me a confirmation email that my claim has been properly closed. Such a relief to have this taken care of properly. Thanks for all the help!
Congrats on getting it resolved! This thread is going to be so helpful for other people dealing with the same situation. I'm actually bookmarking it because I have a friend who might be moving from NY to California soon and will probably need this exact information. It's crazy how complicated something that should be simple can be, but at least now there's a clear step-by-step process laid out here. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
Yes, definitely bookmark this! I went through a similar situation last year when I moved from NY to Florida and wish I had found a thread like this back then. The step-by-step instructions from @Dominic Green really break down what can be a confusing process. Your friend will probably run into the same issues - NY s'unemployment system isn t'very intuitive about interstate moves. Make sure they don t'just stop certifying like some people suggested here, because as we saw from @Mia Roberts experience, that' can lead to serious problems later on.
If you're having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor to file your claim or check on adjudication status, I used a service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI showing how it works. Really helped when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines.
Just remember you still need to be able and available for work while collecting benefits. If you're still providing full-time care, that could be an issue with your weekly claims.
The whole system is ridiculous honestly. They make it so complicated to figure out if you even qualify and then make you wait weeks for an answer while you have no income. I got disqualified for 'quitting without good cause' even though my workplace was completely toxic and unsafe.
Just wanted to add that even if you can't get regular unemployment, there might be small business assistance programs through the state or SBA that could help with your catering business. Don't give up on entrepreneurship just because of a slow period!
I'm in a similar boat with my photography business - revenue has been really inconsistent this year. From what I've researched, New York State does have some programs for struggling small businesses even if we can't get regular unemployment. You might want to check out the Empire State Development Corporation's website for business grants and low-interest loans. Also, some local workforce development boards offer training programs that come with stipends while you learn new skills that could complement your catering business. It's worth exploring all options before having to take a traditional W-2 job if you want to keep your business going.
That's really helpful information about the Empire State Development Corporation! I hadn't thought about looking into business grants or training programs with stipends. My catering business is my passion and I'd really prefer to keep it going rather than giving up and taking a regular job. Do you know if there are any specific programs that work well for food service businesses? I'm wondering if there might be ServSafe certification programs or commercial kitchen training that could help me expand my services while I wait for business to pick back up.
Ingrid Larsson
just file and see what happens tbh. worst they can do is say no right? i worked part time when i was on unemployment and it was fine
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Klaus Schmidt
•While that might work out, it's better to understand the rules upfront so you don't accidentally make mistakes on your weekly claims that could cause issues later.
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Sophia Russo
I work for NYS Department of Labor and can confirm that you can definitely file for unemployment benefits while working part-time! The key things to remember: 1) Report ALL earnings on your weekly certification - even if it's just $1, 2) You can earn up to 25% of your weekly benefit rate without any reduction to your UI benefits, 3) After that threshold, benefits are reduced but not eliminated, and 4) You must still be available for full-time work and actively job searching. With your part-time income of $180/week, you'll likely still receive a significant portion of your unemployment benefits. Don't let the part-time job stop you from filing - many people are in similar situations and the system is designed to help workers transitioning between jobs.
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Alberto Souchard
•@Sophia Russo This is exactly the kind of official guidance I was hoping to find! I m'in a very similar situation to the original poster - just lost my main job but still have weekend work. Your breakdown of the 25% threshold rule is really helpful. One thing I m'curious about - does the NYS Department of Labor have any specific guidelines about what counts as actively "job searching when" you already have some part-time work? Like do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs per week, or is there flexibility since I m'already partially employed?
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Andre Moreau
•@Sophia Russo This is incredibly helpful! I ve'been stressing about this for days since getting laid off. Quick question - when I file my weekly certification online, is there a specific section where I report the part-time earnings, or do I need to call it in? I want to make sure I m'doing everything correctly from the start so there are no issues down the road. Also, does it matter that my part-time job is in retail while my main job was in an office setting - like do they consider industry when calculating benefits?
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