Other things that can disqualify you: being self-employed, not being a US citizen or authorized to work, being in school full-time without approval, being incarcerated, or receiving certain types of pension payments. Also if you're not physically able to work due to illness or disability, you'd need to apply for disability benefits instead.

If your cousin wants to appeal, she should do it even if it seems like a wage issue. Sometimes there are errors in how NYS Department of Labor calculated the wages or they might be missing some employment records. The appeal process is free and she has nothing to lose. Make sure she appeals within 30 days of the denial letter - that deadline is strict. During the appeal, she can also submit any missing wage documentation like pay stubs or W-2s that might help her case.

its been like this since forever smh. ny unemployment living in 1995 with these systems 🤡

Had the exact same problem last week! What finally worked for me was using a different device entirely - tried on my phone instead of laptop and it went through. Also make sure you're not using any browser extensions or ad blockers, they can mess with the site's javascript. If you're still stuck, definitely try the early morning trick @Lim Wong mentioned - got through at 6:30am on my second try. The system is trash but don't give up, you got this! 💪

Congrats on getting it resolved! This thread is super helpful for anyone dealing with the same issue. I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It's crazy how much better the outcome is when you know the right terminology to use - "T42 verification exception" seems to be the magic phrase that gets you past the script-reading reps to someone who can actually help. For anyone else reading this, the key takeaways seem to be: 1. Don't wait the full 10 days if you can help it 2. Use specific terminology when calling back 3. Document everything 4. Consider using callback services if you're stuck in redial hell Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with NYSDOL's confusing system!

This is exactly the kind of detailed, helpful thread that makes this community so valuable! I'm dealing with a similar IDme verification issue right now (different problem - address verification stuck in limbo) and seeing how @QuantumLeap got their email mismatch resolved gives me hope. The "T42 verification exception" terminology is going to be a game-changer - I had no idea there were specific internal terms that could help cut through the confusion. I've been getting the runaround for 5 days now with three different reps telling me three different things about what's needed to fix my address discrepancy. Going to try the Claimyr service today and use that exact phrase when I get through. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here instead of just venting (though the venting is totally justified too!). This is why I love this community - real solutions from people who've actually been through it.

thanks everyone this thread answered my question too! been wondering about this for weeks

Just to clarify the earlier responses - in NY, you can work part-time and still collect partial unemployment benefits. The important thing is to always report your gross weekly earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly certification. As long as your earnings are less than your weekly benefit rate plus $50, you'll still get some benefits. Also remember that if you work 4 or more days in a week, even if the total hours are low, it might affect your eligibility for that week. The NYS DOL website has a partial benefits calculator that can help you estimate what you'd receive based on your earnings.

THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SYSTEM IS DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!!! They make it impossible to understand your benefits on purpose. I've been fighting with them for months about my base period calculation and getting nowhere. The online system shows one amount but when I finally got through on the phone they told me something completely different.

Wait so if I just started a new job in November but got laid off in December, those wages won't count toward my base period? That seems really unfair since that was my highest paying job.