Final piece of advice - in your appeal, be professional but also human. Explain your situation clearly, acknowledge any mistakes you might have made in record-keeping (without admitting to fraud, which you didn't commit), and emphasize that any errors were unintentional. Mention financial hardship if applicable. Appeals judges are looking for honesty and good faith efforts to comply with the rules. I've seen many initial denials overturned on appeal when the person shows they genuinely tried to follow the requirements.

I went through something very similar about 6 months ago. The key thing that saved me was getting a detailed breakdown from DOL about exactly what they flagged. In my case, it turned out I had listed the same job posting twice (applied through the company website AND through Indeed for the same position) and they counted that as "inflating" my work search numbers. The appeal process took about 3 weeks, but I won because I could prove it was an honest mistake. Make sure when you document everything for your appeal, you include the date/time stamps on your applications and any confirmation numbers you received. Also, if you used any job search websites, see if you can print out your application history from your account - that really helped show my good faith effort to comply with the requirements.

This whole system is ridiculous. They fire people for something that's LEGAL and then deny them benefits when they need help the most. Meanwhile corporations get bailouts left and right. Sorry you're dealing with this OP.

Hey Oliver, I went through something similar about a year ago. Got fired from my retail job for failing a pre-employment drug screen (long story). NYS Department of Labor initially denied my claim, but here's what I learned: document everything about your termination. Get a copy of your employee handbook if you can, save any emails or texts about the drug test, and write down exactly what happened and when. Even if they deny you initially, the appeals process is where you have a real chance to present your case. I ended up getting benefits after my appeal because I could show inconsistencies in how my employer handled the situation. Don't give up before you even try - you might be surprised. Good luck!

I was in your exact situation last yr... exhausted benefits, couldn't find work, thought I was screwed. I ONLY found a solution by talking to an actual human at unemployment. Obviously impossible to get through on phone but I used claimyr.com which was clutch. Agent helped me understand exactly what I needed to qualify again and suggested other programs in the meantime. Best money I spent all year tbh.

I'm in a similar situation - exhausted benefits last summer and have only had sporadic freelance work since. From reading through all these comments, it sounds like the key requirements are: 1) Your benefit year needs to be fully over (52 weeks from when you first applied), 2) You need earnings in at least 2 quarters since your last claim began, 3) At least $2,600+ in your highest quarter, and 4) Total base period wages need to be 1.5x your highest quarter. With only 6 weeks of temp work, you probably won't qualify yet, but definitely look into those other assistance programs people mentioned (SNAP, 211, local food banks). The job market really is brutal right now - you're not alone in this struggle!

Don't overthink it! FUTA is just background stuff that makes the whole unemployment system possible. Keep filing your weeklies and doing your job searches and you'll be fine.

Thanks everyone for clarifying this! I was getting anxious about all these federal acronyms but it sounds like FUTA is just part of the system that makes our benefits possible in the first place. Good to know I can focus on what I'm already doing - my weekly certifications and job search activities. The NYS Department of Labor portal can be overwhelming with all the different terms and requirements, so it's reassuring to hear from others who've navigated this successfully.

THE WORST PART IS TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE PHONE OMFG. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach a human being at NY unemployment to fix an issue with my claim. The phone system is a joke - either busy signals or it hangs up on you after making you go through all the prompts!!!

Hey Hunter! I'm in a similar situation - bartender at a place in Manhattan that went from packed to ghost town practically overnight. I successfully got partial unemployment and it's been a lifesaver while I figure things out. The key things that helped me: 1) When you apply online, be super clear that your hours were cut due to "lack of work" not that you're "still employed" 2) Keep detailed records of your daily earnings and days worked - you'll need this for weekly certification 3) Try to consolidate your shifts into fewer days if possible because of NY's weird day-counting system. Also heads up - the website will probably crash on you multiple times during the application process. Don't give up! Save your progress frequently. The whole system is frustrating but the benefits really help bridge the gap. Good luck and hang in there - this rough patch won't last forever! 🙏